In honour of the coming July 2024 Olympics in Paris, Oak Bay Mayor Kevin Murdoch has his sights set on competing against some stiff competition for this year’s Oak Bay Tea Party Mayor’s Floating Teacup Race: ex-Olympians.
Murdoch goes into the race with three years of teacup racing experience across his five-year span as mayor, including two wins.
As per whether the mayor will change his technique when going up against such high calibre athletes?
“I may have to sabotage the other teacups to have a chance of winning this time. But I don’t mind seeing a teacup award on someone else’s shelf alongside real sporting medals,” Murdoch said.
He also has some tips for not tipping over.
“The easiest way to not tip is to not leave the beach, but on the water, it’s a matter of balancing against waves and wind, which both want to swamp the saucer.”
The mayor of Oak Bay puts out the challenge to compete in the Mayor’s Floating Teacup Race each year, a special tradition where the winner takes home the coveted trophy. Last year, Murdoch challenged Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock. In 2019, he won against Saanich Mayor Fred Haynes in a swimming race after Haynes upended Murdoch’s teacup.
If Murdoch goes against an ex-Olympian, it won’t be the first time a high-calibre athlete has captained the six-foot-wide fibreglass vessel. Olympic medalist Silken Laumann “obliterated” past mayor Christopher Causton in 2013, according to a 2013 Black Press article.
Past racer Frank Leonard, former mayor of Saanich, has three tips for approaching the race. Rule 1: Let the Oak Bay Mayor win for the home crowd. Rule 2: Short, slow strokes or you’ll tip over. And Rule 3: Enjoy the moment, it won’t be long before it is only a memory.
Whether it will be sink and swim for Murdoch, only time will tell. But it’s good to know that Oak Bay Sea Rescue Society will be standing by.
The 2024 Tea Party runs May 31 to June 2, at Willows Beach. The Mayor’s Floating Teacup Race takes place at 3 p.m. on June 2.
READ MORE: What’s an Oak Bay Tea Party without giant floating cups?
