Pier to Pub is Torquay local’s newest challenge

THOUSANDS of swimmers will line up at Lorne Pier on January 11 to commence the 2025 Pier to Pub swim but hundreds will take to the waters of Louttit Bay for their first time, such as Torquay resident Nicky Aitken.

Ms Aitken, a Torquay resident of 12 years and teacher at St Therese Catholic School, will aim to complete her first Pier to Pub swim alongside her son, James, in a bid to conquer a challenge she set herself more than a year ago.

“I’m nervous, very nervous, I haven’t swum 1.2km in a long time, or in the ocean really, particularly with my health issues,” Ms Aitken said.

“However, there’s definitely excitement there, doing it with my son of course will be great, and it’s a challenge I set myself prior to the 2024 event and I believe I’m ready to take it on for 2025.”

Ms Aitken has been battling with her health in recent years. Diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2019, she has gone through process of chemotherapy, radiation, food tubes and then eventually surgery to remove the tumour in her body.

She has been recovering since, passing her yearly check-ups and will be going for her five-year check-up this month.

 

“Your outlook on life does change a bit after going through something like that, your work-life balance, your at-home life, there’s a lot to re-evaluate,” Ms Aitken said.

“I’ve been trying to do a lot more challenges in recent years, things like the Surf Coast Trek and the Geelong Run, but this is something different to that altogether.”

A former pool swimmer, Ms Aitken admits her ocean swimming is not as strong, but she feels bolstered following some advice given by Torquay’s local ocean swimming group.

The average finish time for participants is 22 minutes, more than double the record of 10 minutes and two seconds completed by Sam Sheppard in 2016 in the open men’s category.

About 25,000 spectators are expected to descend on Lorne for the annual ocean swim.

Ms Aitken will also have the support of her husband and four other children at this year’s event.

Registrations close today (Friday, January 3). Head to lornesurfclub.com.au to register before the window closes.