Posted by DH
Okanagan Lake Beach, Observations 6:50 A.M. PST

Most of the crowd is in place, lining the shores from the ropes to the trees. There is a heavy background murmur and occasional shouting to the athletes. The athletes are shuffling. Most have their position but are pulling out their wetsuits, adjusting goggles, shaking out their arms.

The water temperature is 68 deg F (20 deg C), ambiant air 60 deg. Pleasant. There is the morning smell of damp sand and ponderosa pine. Herring gulls circle the canoes, yachts, kayaks and buoys that form the triangle course.

The athletes have formed a bulging arc, those anticipating the fastest swims at the middle. Wahine is to the left of middle and about half way back. Pink swim cap!

Wahine does well in the swim, most recently first out of the water in her age group at the Pacific Crest half Ironman. I’ve seen videos of her from underwater cameras. When she catches and pulls, you can see heavy turbulence coming off her fingertips. But the key to her performance is body position, keeping her core high, rolling and extending. She is good at translating what her coaches tell her.

Wahine has disappeared into the mass of black suits, one of 2500 coiled springs.