Three associations are organizing a primary in France on the finish of Could: the tour of the Etang de Thau in 4 whitewater swimming phases. For champions and amateurs who problem themselves on a number of phases of this primary Swim Thau Trek. On the similar time, per week of waste assortment is organized to lift consciousness of this fragile ecosystem.
This can be a first in France and we’re already braiding laurels for it. “The Thau Swim Trek? (1) It is an ideal initiative!” It’s the treasurer of the French Swimming Federation and president of the Ligue d’Occitanie who says so. Bernard Dalmon is from Aveyron who got here to swimming via his youngsters. And it’s this lovely concept, easy like childhood, honest like a buddy, apparent like a dedicated period, that he’ll assist to advertise, he assures us.
“It is an ideal initiative!”
“I shall be current for the 4 days of the occasion, provides the supervisor. Combining sport and the surroundings; white water swimming and coastal cleansing, it may well solely please. Furthermore, the Federation is engaged in a means of sustainable improvement…”, emphasizes Bernard Dalmon. The latter hopes that his self-discipline will discover a low water degree at 35,000 licensees in Occitania as quickly as doable., the well being disaster having struck, swimming misplaced 15% of its workforce through the covid-19 well being disaster. This sort of occasion that is sensible can convey its stone.
Join the 5 most important municipalities bordering the pond
Affirmation on the fringe of the swimming swimming pools the place, for a number of days, everybody, younger or previous, has been going about their arguments, their self-persuasion, their problem to justify their joyful participation in this nice nautical competition, from Could 26 to 29, through the Ascension weekend.
Goal of this primary Thau Swim Trek, organized by three associations (the NOF 34, extra targeted on swimming, Nage Aventure, for relations with companions, and Swim4sea which organizes collections): connect with swimming, in 4 phases, the 5 most important communes of the Etang de Thau. Sète, Marseillan, Mèze, Balaruc-les-Bains and Bouzigues (2). That is referred to as open water swimming. In nature. With the currents, the wind and the liberty. Alongside these sporting occasions, the organizers have mixed waste assortment days. Eco-responsible gestures that mobilize.
Highlighting the Etang de Thau
Batteries mendacity on the backside of the water, gutted tires, shredded plastic luggage, and so on. The Etang de Thau and its 7,500 hectares of water are an impressive and fragile setting of biodiversity that should be protected. Furthermore, swimming in clear water is the primary concern of the swimmer who’s properly positioned to change into conscious of this hidden continent which are the 1000’s of submerged waste. The Etang de Thau can be a dwelling laboratory with its manufacturing of shellfish (10% of the French market) and its distinctive ecosystems (with one of the crucial common seahorse spots). The thought of highlighting this Etang de Thau with a swim race and waste assortment was a heady chorus for the organizers.
“An eco-responsible race for everybody, licensed and unlicensed”
Like surfers, swimmers really feel primarily involved by the degradation of the surroundings. “It is an eco-responsible race that’s open to everybody, licensees and non-licensees”, defines the revered Bertrand Venturi, multiple champion whose Dis-Leur had published the portrait HERE, sports activities director of NOF 34, the Frontignan swimming membership. There isn’t a minimal degree.
“The thought, for the swimming half, which takes place underneath the management of the French Swimming Federation, is that this occasion takes place over 4 days, over 4 phases, i.e. 27 km in complete, he specifies. We restrict to 120 locations for many who need to do every thing. With strict guidelines: whether it is too chilly, for instance, between 16 levels and 18 levels, the neoprene wetsuit is necessary; between 18 levels and 20 levels is elective and it’s prohibited above 20 levels.” Already, several dozen registrations have been validated. You can do the same here.
50 further locations every day for the challenges
Past these 120 swimmers, “on daily basis, 50 further locations are open for many who need to problem themselves. That is 170 swimmers on the similar time within the water. Lastly, we added a further 80 locations for the Sétoise, the crossing of Sète, ranging from Pointe-Courte and arriving on the Môle Saint-Louis, via the canals” Be careful for this legendary race with a thousand and one secrets and techniques! Be careful for the mistral blowing in your again however for the opposing currents within the water!
Two tons of waste collected final 12 months
The day earlier than these races, waste assortment is organized within the cities of arrival. “We invite not solely volunteers and organizers however all contributors and volunteers to make folks perceive the significance of our surroundings”, specifies Bertrand Venturi. In 2021, there was a type of repetition, of quantity zero of the Thau Swim Trek. “Final 12 months, we collected two tons of waste. With out being a purpose that may not imply something, we want to choose up extra”, says Bertrand Venturi once more.
“This occasion might multiply all over the place…”
Skilled firefighter and diver, Laurent Gayraud, who additionally brings his expertise together with having participated within the Maroca Swim Trek says: “We’re pioneers. This occasion might multiply all over the place: in a lake within the Pyrenees; on the banks of a river…” Possibly in the future this Thau Swim Trek shall be built-in into the calendar of nationwide and, why not, worldwide races. For her half, Laura Dressayre, the consultant of the Nage Aventure affiliation which takes care of main behind-the-scenes work (relations with sponsors, native authorities, and so on.), is enthusiastic. “As an open water swimmer, I used to be additionally eager to defend the surroundings…”
“We reply questions on social networks”
This occasion is distinctive in France. For individuals who have a thousand and one questions and wish recommendation, Bertrand Venturi assures us: “We attempt to reply on social networks; we’ve got fairly a number of questions on currents, for instance; we attempt to be reactive and to place folks as snug as doable by directing them in the direction of the race(s) that correspond to them. No query of sending them to the pipe-breaker…”
Colleges related to the occasion
College lessons might be related to the occasion and to hold out upstream environmental consciousness work. “Youngsters might additionally work on an environmental trophy in future years”, confides Bertrand Venturi once more. What if every stopover city took the chance to showcase regional merchandise with banquets, for instance, past the same old events the place sauerkraut and sea urchin are out?
Till then, the Etang de Thau and its protected natural world have been only for contemplation. Shared by two philosophies: fishing and shellfish farming on one facet. And a really restricted approved leisure improvement on the opposite. A 3rd method begins to pierce, de facto dismissing any need to float, like a marina for the ultra-rich, together with any lethal sanctuary of a pure and dwelling area.
Olivier SCHLAMA
(2) “La Marseillanaise” : Marseillan-Mèze, Could 26, departure eight am, 10 km. Friday, Could 27: “La Mézoise”, between Mèze and Bouzigues, 6 km. Saturday Could 28: “La Bouzigaude”, between Bouzigues and Balaruc-les-Bains, 5 km. Sunday Could 29: “La Balarucoise”, between Balaruc-les-Bains and Sète, 6 km. And at last, “La Setoise” additionally on Sunday Could 29, 2.5 km within the canals of Ile Singulière.
