A spokesman for the annual La Jolla Rough Water Swim has released a statement that the 2014 event has been canceled due to the construction of a new lifeguard tower and bathroom renovation at the Cove lifeguard tower up above the beach.
“Unfortunately, due to the City of San Diego’s La Jolla Cove renovation project and new lifeguard tower construction, our event venue will not be available this year,” said Bill Perry. “Originally, the City’s construction schedule projected completion prior to our event, but this is no longer the case. ”
Perry said this is the first time since 1959 that the swim, currently in its 84th year, has been canceled. Longtime La Jolla William Robbins said the event was previously cancelled during World War II, one year due to a shark scare and once because of a polio scare, before La Jolla’s Salk Institute developed a vaccine.
“Alternative venues… were considered by the operations committee,” said Perry. “But after polling a random sampling of past entrants, the consensus was to postpone the 84th swim rather than organize a substandard event.”
Perry added that the swim organizing committee would be back strong in 2015 “without a doubt. Participants can look forward to all the beauty and excitement that this iconic race has been known for… ,” he said.
The renowned open-water swim, held in La Jolla Cove, is a multi-race event for swimmers of all age groups. The event’s highlight is the three-mile Gatorman race.