For just the 2nd time since the race began in 1999, there will be no Tiburon mile in 2014, according to an announcement on the race’s official website.
The Tiburon mile is a huge open water event held off the coast of the northern California town of Tiburon, California in the Raccoon Strait in a one-mile dash for cash.
In the statement, meet founder and host Bob Placak says that because of the Affordable Care Act that goes into effect in 2014, he will be spending the year focusing on his employee benefits business Robert C. Placak & Associates as they navigate through new territory in the insurance world.
Placak promises that the event, which sometimes is accompanied by the headlining Tiburon Sprint Classic, will return for 2015.
The only other time since its inception that this meet has been skipped was in 2005, when Placak and his wife had a baby.
The 2013 event was won by Poland’s Mateusz Sawrymowicz, followed by Olympic gold medalist Ous Mellouli and New Zealand’s Kane Radford. The women’s race went to American Ashley Twichell, and along with it Sawrymowicz and Twichell each took home a $10,000 prize.
Since 1999 Robert Placak & the team at RCP Events has brought thousands of swimmers to the beautiful town of Tiburon for a world class, one of a kind Open Water Swim, The RCP Tiburon Mile. US and International Olympians, World Open Water Champions, Special Olympic athletes, US Master and US Swim teams, Collegiate teams and swim enthusiasts worldwide have all enjoyed the 1 nautical mile swim from Angel Island in San Francisco Bay to the shore of downtown Tiburon.
We are grateful to everyone that has participated, both on land and in the water. Our 200+ volunteers on an annual basis return to help organize and orchestrate this event beautifully and to each of them we extend our heartfelt thanks. We are proud that since 1999 we have raised $1,400,000 for charity.
As you may know, Robert C. Placak & Associates is and has been the title sponsor for this race. We put our heart and soul into bringing this event to life on an annual basis. As some of you may not know our business is providing Employee Benefit Consulting to companies worldwide. We put our heart and soul into this as well. With the passing of the Affordable Care Act (known to many as Obamacare) our industry is the midst of the greatest changes in health care since the implementation of Medicare. As with any change there is confusion, concern and lots and lots of questions.
We have decided that during 2014 we will focus 100% of our energy on our Employee Benefit business. Our clients need us; our energy, expertise and knowledge to help guide them through this complex maze.
We have made the tough decision to postpone the next RCP Tiburon Mile until 2015.
Please check our Facebook page and website often for updates.
Happy Swimming!
There IS a Tiburon Mile this Sunday, September 14 at 8am. It’s being organized by The Night Train. Here’s the website: http://nighttrainswimmers.org/events/night-train-mile
I’m disappointed to see the top three 2013 male finishers listed, but only the winning female swimmer. Weren’t there 2nd and 3rd place finishers in the women’s race as well?
This is Obama’s fault.
No, if you knew Placak, you’d know this is his attempt to capitalize on the situation.
You also probably wouldn’t be upset about it.