February 20, 2026 • 5 mins
Kiwis are hitting the waves as the Ocean Swim series returns to the Bay of Islands.
There’s a range of different races this weekend, with something for anyone.
Brent Foster, former Commonwealth Games and Ironman competitor, is one of those swimming – he joined D’Arcy to discuss the event.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Wildgrave from News Talk S'B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's get into the brainy deep. The Ocean Swim series
back to the Bay of Island since weekend Today were
joined by like I wouldn't say recidivist because it's not
really an offense to go swimming in the ocean, is it.
But let's face it, this bloke can't stop. Brent Foster
joins US now former Commonwealth Games competitor. He also triathlete.
(00:36):
The list goes on. He won't stop in his fifties,
he'll be swimming in the event brand. Good morning to you.
How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Very good? Thanks to I see, yeah, yeah, thank you.
How about yourself?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah no, not so bad. Not getting in the drink,
but that's because i'd sink although you were in topaul
last time out, won't and with a lack of buoyancy.
How did that work for you?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Yeah, you sink a little lower. But it's lovely in
the fresh water.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
It was lovely and clear actually, and I had a
week so some don't have their wet suit. I did
have a wet suit and that helps with points anyway,
So it wasn't too much of a problem.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I did the five k. It was good, it's quite
quite good.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Actually, what are you up to this weekend? Where are
you competing?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yes, it'll be a course going pie Here to Russell.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
It's about three point three kilometers and it's quite nice
to finish in the quaint little turn of Russell and
we start fairly early, so it's.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
A bit calmer earlier on.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
And yeah, it's a nice point to point course and
people often have a bit of a drink afterwards and
a prize giving.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
It's it's good actually.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
So there's a number of races, isn't there involved? I
think you've got the kids races. You've got a quick
blast across half a k. There's around the bay event
as well, plus this beach to bay situation, so cass
for everybody.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah, it does.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Yeah, yeah, it's great to get the kids in young,
you know, into the ocean and there's short distances for them.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
And yeah, it's usually pretty calm there.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
It's a great little area to get to just driving
up there now actually, and it's quite scenic. We've taken
the State Highway sixteen and it's actually pretty scenic. It
was about the same time because of some sort of
crash on the main highway. So no, no, it's nice
to get away another road trip.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
You're just avoiding the toll, aren't you.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Well I did say it was fast this way, so yeah, yeah,
well there's that tea, yeah, the doll.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, this is a long way from i'd say you're
healthy in days, although you're still an age group record
holder now from Life and Times representing New Zealand. How
long ago was that what mid eighties early nineties that
you were at kommauth games level.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yeah, I did a couple of Commath Games and World
Champs eighty six, nineteen ninety Comaic Games in eighty six
World Champs, and I did some pan packs.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I wasn't a world record final.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
The Olympic champion Alex Baman just got out touched by
Dave Warton, the American champion. I got the New Zealand
record in the Fauna Midley. So yeah, that was about
eighty eighty nine.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I think it was. I've been going well, I've been
going well.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, and then after that you got out of a
pool and I think you were competing in an iron
Man for a while too. But a surf life saving
as well I did.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Yeah, I did cflight saving did about four world champs.
We won the world title, and then ninety ninety that
was fantastic. That was an Auckland. And then yeah, I
got into triathlon. I was not the fastest runner, but
as you know, Hayden Wild is incredible all three but
particularly his runs. So I did some World Cups and
I got an eighth, and I did some Iron Men
(03:55):
and ten of those.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Did Hawaii as a pro. Got well you went to ConA.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Did you get sizzled alive?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Oh? Yes, it was very high. You can see the
heat waves off the tarmac. And I ran a three
or five. I was pretty proud of that run at
the end of a nine man and I did a
pretty good time actually in the eights eight fifty four.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So you're pretty pretty pleased.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
But you're still competing. What you're in your in your fifties.
What's the drive? What are you still getting in the
drink for? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, it's funny. It's like anything in life, you know,
have you've.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Got a work goal or or a career goal, or
a relationship goal or anything, you know, it drives you forward.
So I feel I've got to have a bit of
a goal, and the Ocean Swim series is such a
great goal, and Cathedral co Swim two is a great
swim as well. But you know, and therefore you train
(04:50):
because you've got to compete, and you know you're racing
like minded individuals.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
So that's that's the main reason.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Really, I touched on a world record before. This is
in a pool, what twenty five meter pool? You've now
got the age group fifteen hundred meter record. That's pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Yes, in the sixteen sixteen fifteen iyems, I was very
heavy with it and yeah, that's that's.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yeah, it was a tough one.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
I did it in testimony, went all the way there,
and my cousin lives there so I saw him too,
so it was yeah, real, that was really nice to
do that.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Mind stop, can't stop, unstoppable. Brent Foster, wishing you the
best for the weekend. Get in there, tear it up
and show these young fellows that being in your fifties
is not so bad and you don't lose much pace.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Thank you, Thanks Darsie must appreciate it, and all the
best to everyone out there with your training and exercise
goals too.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
Listen live to news talks they'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Wildgrave from News Talk S'B.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's get into the brainy deep. The Ocean Swim series
back to the Bay of Island since weekend Today were
joined by like I wouldn't say recidivist because it's not
really an offense to go swimming in the ocean, is it.
But let's face it, this bloke can't stop. Brent Foster
joins US now former Commonwealth Games competitor. He also triathlete.
(00:36):
The list goes on. He won't stop in his fifties,
he'll be swimming in the event brand. Good morning to you.
How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Very good? Thanks to I see, yeah, yeah, thank you.
How about yourself?
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Yeah no, not so bad. Not getting in the drink,
but that's because i'd sink although you were in topaul
last time out, won't and with a lack of buoyancy.
How did that work for you?
Speaker 3 (00:58):
Yeah, you sink a little lower. But it's lovely in
the fresh water.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
It was lovely and clear actually, and I had a
week so some don't have their wet suit. I did
have a wet suit and that helps with points anyway,
So it wasn't too much of a problem.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I did the five k. It was good, it's quite
quite good.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Actually, what are you up to this weekend? Where are
you competing?
Speaker 3 (01:20):
Yes, it'll be a course going pie Here to Russell.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
It's about three point three kilometers and it's quite nice
to finish in the quaint little turn of Russell and
we start fairly early, so it's.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
A bit calmer earlier on.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
And yeah, it's a nice point to point course and
people often have a bit of a drink afterwards and
a prize giving.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
It's it's good actually.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
So there's a number of races, isn't there involved? I
think you've got the kids races. You've got a quick
blast across half a k. There's around the bay event
as well, plus this beach to bay situation, so cass
for everybody.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yeah, it does.
Speaker 4 (01:57):
Yeah, yeah, it's great to get the kids in young,
you know, into the ocean and there's short distances for them.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
And yeah, it's usually pretty calm there.
Speaker 4 (02:08):
It's a great little area to get to just driving
up there now actually, and it's quite scenic. We've taken
the State Highway sixteen and it's actually pretty scenic. It
was about the same time because of some sort of
crash on the main highway. So no, no, it's nice
to get away another road trip.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
You're just avoiding the toll, aren't you.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Well I did say it was fast this way, so yeah, yeah,
well there's that tea, yeah, the doll.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah, this is a long way from i'd say you're
healthy in days, although you're still an age group record
holder now from Life and Times representing New Zealand. How
long ago was that what mid eighties early nineties that
you were at kommauth games level.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
Yeah, I did a couple of Commath Games and World
Champs eighty six, nineteen ninety Comaic Games in eighty six
World Champs, and I did some pan packs.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I wasn't a world record final.
Speaker 4 (03:12):
The Olympic champion Alex Baman just got out touched by
Dave Warton, the American champion. I got the New Zealand
record in the Fauna Midley. So yeah, that was about
eighty eighty nine.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
I think it was. I've been going well, I've been
going well.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
Yeah, and then after that you got out of a
pool and I think you were competing in an iron
Man for a while too. But a surf life saving
as well I did.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Yeah, I did cflight saving did about four world champs.
We won the world title, and then ninety ninety that
was fantastic. That was an Auckland. And then yeah, I
got into triathlon. I was not the fastest runner, but
as you know, Hayden Wild is incredible all three but
particularly his runs. So I did some World Cups and
I got an eighth, and I did some Iron Men
(03:55):
and ten of those.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Did Hawaii as a pro. Got well you went to ConA.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
Did you get sizzled alive?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Oh? Yes, it was very high. You can see the
heat waves off the tarmac. And I ran a three
or five. I was pretty proud of that run at
the end of a nine man and I did a
pretty good time actually in the eights eight fifty four.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So you're pretty pretty pleased.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
But you're still competing. What you're in your in your fifties.
What's the drive? What are you still getting in the
drink for? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Well, it's funny. It's like anything in life, you know,
have you've.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
Got a work goal or or a career goal, or
a relationship goal or anything, you know, it drives you forward.
So I feel I've got to have a bit of
a goal, and the Ocean Swim series is such a
great goal, and Cathedral co Swim two is a great
swim as well. But you know, and therefore you train
(04:50):
because you've got to compete, and you know you're racing
like minded individuals.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
So that's that's the main reason.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Really, I touched on a world record before. This is
in a pool, what twenty five meter pool? You've now
got the age group fifteen hundred meter record. That's pretty cool.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
Yes, in the sixteen sixteen fifteen iyems, I was very
heavy with it and yeah, that's that's.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yeah, it was a tough one.
Speaker 4 (05:14):
I did it in testimony, went all the way there,
and my cousin lives there so I saw him too,
so it was yeah, real, that was really nice to
do that.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Mind stop, can't stop, unstoppable. Brent Foster, wishing you the
best for the weekend. Get in there, tear it up
and show these young fellows that being in your fifties
is not so bad and you don't lose much pace.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
Thank you, Thanks Darsie must appreciate it, and all the
best to everyone out there with your training and exercise
goals too.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
Listen live to news talks they'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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