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The journey of the 2004 South Head Roughwater for three individuals can be summed up with two words. “Lane Three.”
These three courageous souls: Chris Cole, Richard Banks, and David Earls didn’t just train in a lane together at the Botany Aquatic Centre this season. They created a certain type of culture together.
The focus and determination was apparent. The goal very early was hanging above their heads: “How far can we go?” They all became aware of their individual pace and strength capacity quite early in the piece. But how long could they push themselves.
Coogee to Bondi was a frontrunner, but already done and then cancelled. Now the cards were laid. Bondi to Watson’s Bay SOLO. I assume the feeling was something like, “If he can do it, so can I!”. What a position to be in. Feeding off each other in training and in on-deck discussions. The challenge was set.
The preparation was certainly matched. Every morning session for six months, add in a 3½ hour training swim in a jellyfish infested harbour, and the boys were almost confident. An open ocean training swim was the only thing missing. Not after a bleak and dreary Saturday Morning in early March. They each persistently continued to plod along up and down Bondi just to reassure themselves that they had what it took to do the deed.
And did they that.
I believe very adamantly in setting the bar high and working your tail off to make the leap. The success almost depends in the setting of the bar as much as the final performance. In the end, it is great to see the character that came from these very distinct and different human beings. The end goal was the same for
each; however, the path to get there varied quite dramatically sometimes.
Confidence comes from belief in yourself; and sometimes a whole heap of success still falls short in providing the end result. Simply knowing that these three men put themselves in the right position to take on the challenge has proven my belief in each of them.
Lane Three and its adopted culture will forever portray their achievement.
Well done, Chris, Banksy, and Earlsy. You’re all champions.
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