Gold medallists in swim for ocean series

Champions Danyon Loader (left) and Moss Burmester cut through the water at the Viaduct Harbour yesterday to launch the Sovereign NZ Ocean Swim Series. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Two big names in swimming helped launch the NZ Ocean Swim Series at the Viaduct Harbour yesterday.

Double Olympic Games gold medallist Danyon Loader and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Moss Burmester will compete in the series, starting in Auckland on November 21.

The six-round series will then travel to the Bay of Islands on December 12, Wellington on January 30, Christchurch on February 27 and Mt Maunganui on March 27 before returning to Auckland for the finale on the North Shore on April 17.

Loader - who won two freestyle gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and a silver medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics - and butterfly Commonwealth record holder Burmester will have some tough competition this year.

The elite men's section of the $75,000 series will also feature world ranked Australians Ky Hurst, David Browne and Brendan Capell, and two time ocean series home-grown champion Kane Radford from Rotorua.

Act Party leader Rodney Hide also attended yesterday's launch dressed in a wetsuit with a suit jacket and tie over the top.