Big fish shows his son how it’s done
FATHER and son duo David and Baxter Kay will be racing the clock and each other as they battle it out together for the first time in the 2018 Lorne Pier to Pub.
While David has completed 29 previous Lorne Pier to Pub swims, 15-year-old Baxter, will be attempting his first.
David first entered the race as a young 20-something in 1984.
“I was driving through Lorne with mates and we had no intention of entering the race. We chose to do it at the spur of the moment and just jumped off the pier,” David said.
The Bellbrae resident holidays in Anglesea every year and completed the event on and off until about 1990.
“Then I started doing it every year, mainly as a way of keeping fit and also to give myself a goal to get fit,” David said.
Baxter decided to enter the race a few months back when his dad threatened to hang up his togs.
“Dad said his 30th year would be his last — unless one of us (children) did it with him,” Baxter said. “It just seemed like something he should do. He’s done it for 30 years he should keep doing it.”
The race, which has been running for 38 years, will draw thousands of participants and spectators to Lorne on January 13.
It is this crowd that makes the race so memorable for participants.
“It’s great, it’s very busy and pretty hectic. It’s a fun and unique event,” David said.
While David is excited to be competing with his son, he is worried he will no longer be the fastest Kay family member.
“I swam 16 minutes and 10 seconds about 10 years ago, but I am just hoping to make it under 20 this year,” he said.
Even if he doesn’t make it under 20 minutes, David will still beat his 1984 time of 40 minutes.
“We were just doing breaststroke then,” he said. “My challenge now is to beat Baxter, but he’s faster than me.”
Baxter is aiming to complete his first Pier to Pub in under 18 minutes.