The La Jolla Cove Swim Club event drew one of its largest participant crowds to race the 1.5-mile distance from Scripps Pier to La Jolla Cove.
Despite what the race director called “challenging conditions” in the ocean, more than 300 people took to the water June 28 for the annual La Jolla Pier to Cove Swim.
The 1.5-mile race from Scripps Pier at La Jolla Shores to the beach at La Jolla Cove “went really well,” said Jeff Rake, in his second year of directing the longstanding event for the La Jolla Cove Swim Club, though windy conditions created a “ruffled” effect at the surface.
The choppy water, along with “unrelenting” wave sets at close intervals, meant the more novice swimmers struggled to swim past the breakers, he said, with about seven entrants unable to swim past Scripps Pier opting to abandon the effort.
Most years, the race is “extremely friendly” for all levels, Rake said, taking the average swimmer about 45 minutes to complete.
The 2026 race, however, was “not the day for novices,” he said.
All participants, comprising one of the largest groups for the annual event, nonetheless kept an upbeat attitude, meeting a large crowd of cheering supporters at the finish line.
More than a dozen San Diego lifeguards kept watch along the route and no injuries or safety issues occurred, Rake said.
The lifeguards were “absolutely terrific.”
This year’s race was a “really fantastic collaboration with community and local causes,” Rake said.
Once all were on dry land, Rake hosted the race awards ceremony as attendees sprawled across Scripps Park, where organizations including Wildcoast, Books4Prisoners and the La Jolla Cove Swim Club hosted information booths.
Swimmers were treated to breakfast by Duke’s La Jolla as in past years; the race was sponsored by Local H2O, Rake’s snack company Shark Repellant and more.
Rake looks forward “to growing community involvement” next year, he said.
Video by Provisions Media
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