There are summer traditions, and then there are the ones that shape the whole season. Every second weekend of January, the Great Ocean Road town of Lorne fills with swim caps, running shoes, sunscreen and a crowd of people who have come to cheer. In 2027, the Powercor Lorne Pier to Pub and Mountain to Surf turn 47, and the Surf Coast is ready.
Two days, one coastline
It begins on Friday 8 January with the Mountain to Surf. About 2,500 runners will take on the 8km coastal course, a run that rewards you with big sky, salty air and the Lorne shoreline waiting at the finish.
Then on Saturday 9 January comes the swim. More than 5,000 swimmers will line up for the 1.2km Pier to Pub, Australia’s largest open water swim. Picture thousands of bobbing caps heading across Louttit Bay toward the pub. It is one of those sights you have to see in person to believe.
The Superfish field gets plenty of attention, and for good reason. Last January, Olympic gold medallist Lani Pallister claimed her seventh consecutive women’s title in 12:50, the most successful swimmer in the event’s history. In the men’s race, Olympian Sam Short won in 11:52 and dethroned defending champion Nick Sloman. Expect the 2027 field to be just as fierce.
But ask anyone who has done it and they will tell you the weekend belongs to everyone else: the families, the first timers, and the decades long regulars who wouldn’t miss a January in Lorne. Race Director Peter Williamson, himself a longtime competitor, keeps the whole thing open to all ages and abilities. You don’t need to be fast. You just need to show up.
Training tips: you have time
Here is the good news. With entries open and the event on 8 and 9 January, you have roughly nine weeks to get ready, which is plenty for a first timer who starts steadily.
For the Pier to Pub swim
- Get into open water as soon as the weather allows. Pool laps build fitness, but the sea has chop, current and no black line to follow, and it feels different on the day if you haven’t tried it.
- Practise sighting. Every few strokes, lift your eyes forward to check your line, then settle back into your rhythm. With thousands of swimmers in the water, a straight line matters.
- Build up to swimming continuously for the full distance, or a little beyond it. Of the two, 1.2km is the one that benefits most from comfort in the water rather than raw speed.
- Never swim in the ocean alone. Choose a patrolled beach, swim between the flags and go with a friend.
- Practise in a crowd if you can. Swimming alongside others, bumping elbows and all, is a good way to take the nerves out of the start.
For the Mountain to Surf run
- Build up gradually. If you are new to running, mix walking and jogging and add a little distance each week, aiming to comfortably cover 8km before the event.
- Run on varied ground. Coastal courses rarely stay flat, so include some hills and different surfaces in your weekly routine.
- Do one longer run a week and keep the others easy. Rest days matter as much as the training days.
For both
- If you are doing both events, go easy on the legs the day before you swim.
- Practise your drinks, breakfast and kit well before race weekend, and use only what you have already tested.
If you are new to exercise or have any health concerns, check in with your doctor before ramping up.
Come and cheer
Not racing? Even better, because the day needs you too. More than 20,000 visitors are expected, and the atmosphere comes from the people on the sand, the foreshore and the roadside. Bring a hat, find a good spot, and clap for the swimmer who is nervous, the runner who is flagging and the kid finishing their first event. Then make a weekend of it with a long lunch, a walk along the beach and a Great Ocean Road drive.
This is a volunteer led event, and every dollar goes to Lorne Surf Life Saving Club. The club was re-established in 1947, has 2,700 members and 270 volunteer patrollers, and the red and yellow uniforms you’ll see on the sand are the people who keep the Surf Coast safe all summer. Kate Eriksson steps into the role of club president for this milestone 47th year. Powercor returns as title partner for an eighth consecutive year.
Dates and start times
- Powercor Mountain to Surf (8km): Friday 8 January 2027, 8:30am
- Powercor Pier to Pub (1.2km): Saturday 9 January 2027, 11:00am
Entries
- Entries are open now
- Early bird closes Tuesday 1 December 2026
- Pier to Pub: $80 early bird, $90 after 1 December
- Mountain to Surf: $65 adults and $55 juniors early bird, $75 adults and $65 juniors after 1 December
- Prices are held at 2024 levels
Registration times
- Mountain to Surf: Thursday 7 January, 4:00pm to 6:00pm, and Friday 8 January, 7:00am to 8:30am
- Pier to Pub: Friday 8 January, 4:00pm to 6:00pm, and Saturday 9 January, 8:00am to 12:00pm
Enter and follow along
- Register at lornesurfclub.com.au
- Instagram: @lornep2pandm2s and @lorneslsc
- Lorne is busy on this weekend, so book your accommodation early.
