The Hallam marketing manager took home her second Pier to Pub win in 13 minutes 50 seconds, beating six-time winner Naantali Marshall by nine seconds and finishing ahead of Olympic swimmer Brooke Hanson.

Ebenwaldner, who won the event in 2004, swims in the Victorian Masters competition. She says she has been "basic swimming all my life".

"I do masters swimming now and the open water season when it's on from January to March.

"The Pier to Pub is the biggest event I've won. I've taken out a number of masters national titles, and won last year's Rip View swim classic at Point Lonsdale."

Ebenwaldner moved to Dandenong North 10 years ago to "be closer to Mum and Dad".

She said that with open water racing, there was always a fear of sharks and other sea creatures.

"You don't think about it when you're racing, but it's always in the back of your mind, the possibility of a shark attack. "My husband and I did the Pier to Pub course the night before and there was no one else in the water. We were both petrified."

Greater Dandenong Mayor John Kelly congratulated the 28-year-old on her achievement.

Cr Kelly said Ebenwaldner had done herself and her city proud.

"I was proud to see a Dandenong girl come out on top of such a high quality field, which included the likes of retired Olympian Brooke Hanson and six-time Pier to Pub winner Naantali Marshall," he said.

What began as a dare between members of the local surf lifesaving club in the late 1970s is now the world's largest open-water swim event. The 4300 places in the 2008 Pier to Pub race sold out in 11 hours.