Photo Gallery: Waves? What Waves? (And More from Marbella)
Photos: Kevin Mackinnon
Things kicked off at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship this morning with a swim session hosted by swim director Chuck Glynn and Craig Alexander, the man who won the first IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Clearwater, Florida. (Along with three Kona titles and one other 70.3 title, too.) Despite the wavy conditions, the pair managed to reassure the athletes on hand that they wouldn’t have too many issues with the swim and the waves that were crashing into the shore. (They were right – even with some of the larger waves it wasn’t too difficult to dive under and keep moving forward.)
It looks a lot easier on the map.
Here are a few shots from this morning’s swim, beginning with a few we caught of a couple of the women’s pre-race favourites, along with some other photos we captured from out on the bike course yesterday:
Kat Matthews will look to do a couple of things here in Marbella this weekend: 1) get that elusive world championship win and 2) defend her IRONMAN Pro Series title.
Paula Findlay was second at this championship in 2022 (over St. George’s tough course.) The challenging bike course here in Marbella is perfectly suited to her.
Craig (Crowie) Alexander was on hand to provide some good pre-race thoughts for the competitors.
There are, of course, over 6,000 age group athletes competing this weekend, too. We caught a few of them at the swim this morning, too.
You go first. No, YOU go first …
While the conditions in the water are expected to be a bit calmer on the weekend, the bike course won’t be getting any easier. Hopefully athletes can at least enjoy some of the spectacular sights to go along with all the climbing.
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IRONMAN 70.3 World ChampionshipIRONMAN 70.3 World Championship Marbellamarbella 2025Photo GalleryNotable Replies
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That could (almost) go in the “Surfing” thread
I swam in conditions like that in Benalmadena (between Marbella and Malaga) a few years ago, in training, and it was getting dark, and the beach was empty, and the return to the beach (being thrown forward again and again by the waves, not knowing when my head would be over the water) was the scariest moment of my life that didn’t involve looking at a spider.
Sounds like the winds have died down today and should be calm this weekend.
I just swam a bit ago and the water was very calm, winds died down a lot too.
Hardly a wave, 1ft slop barley cresting, then hitting the shore break zone. One could literally do 1 dive under(a proper one) and be in green water. But ya for most triathletes they would get hit 5 times, standing up in waist deep water, and then come on and talk about the 8ft waves they endured.. (-;
Love the wedge though, now that is some serious shore break!!!
Tell us you’re from Jersey without telling us you’re from Jersey….
JOOC, what is the water temp???
65F I believe. A bit chilly once I got in but warmed up quickly in the wetsuit.
Ah, thanks, def wetsuit legal for AGers then, and prob even for the pros.