Race Information
Now in its 62nd year!
Kelowna’s annual Across The Lake Swim has long been advertised as the longest continuously running open water swim event in BC, and it may be one of the longest events of its kind in North America. So come and take the plunge, get your time as you challenge yourself and others in your age category for medals and prizes.
The swim course is unchanged from previous years, from the Old Ferry Docks in West Kelowna to Hot Sands Beach in City Park.
With the continued growth of our event, the 2010 race will have three waves, separating swimmers by their abilities to enhance safety, and minimize congestion on the lake. Your wave will be based on what you entered your estimated swim time to be on the registration form, and you will get a color-coded cap for your wave, but all swimmers will get a time and will be eligible for medals in their age group, as well as door prizes. Waves will be separated by two minutes only, so do not dawdle getting into the lake after the first wave has started!
If you expect to do the swim in 32 minutes or less, the first 100 swimmers who register in this category will be put in the first wave. If you are expecting to finish the swim in 32-42 minutes, the first 175 swimmers who indicated that will be placed in the second wave. The third wave is intended for slower, more recreational swimmers, and will likely have the most kayak support. If you have not done the Across The Lake Swim before, check last years’ results to compare your swimming abilities with someone you know to help you estimate your swim time.
Again this year, we are delighted to have Sun FM carry our promotional duties for the Across The Lake Swim. Listen for their spots on radio in the weeks leading up to the race, and enjoy Tarzan Dan Freeman working with Nick Rabinovitch at the Finish Line calling in the swimmers.
House Boat Shuttle and Cruise.
Back by popular demand, the $5 house boat ferry is a great way to avoid a long gravelly walk from your parked car half way up Old Ferry Wharf Road. This year, we have added a second houseboat (The Boardroom joins the Okanagan Princess), so we expect to get most swimmers over to the start line without the hopeless congestion of parking on the Westside. REGISTER EARLY TO GET THE FERRY DEPARTURE TIME THAT YOU WANT. Remember that the second sailing of each boat will also be for spectators who want to watch the race on the water, so the second sailing will likely sell out more quickly.
Race Package Pickup
Your race packages will again be available at for pickup at the Fresh Air Concept store in the Mission, 555 Groves Ave, in the 2 days before the race. Your race packages will again have a green theme, courtesy of Save-On Foods – no more plastic bags! You can pick up your race package on:
Thursday, July 15 5-8PM
Friday, July 16 5-8PM
Your race package will include your race day waiver, souvenir towel, numbered cap, and other goodies. YOU MUST BRING YOUR SIGNED WAIVER TO THE TIMING CHIP PICK UP TABLE ON RACE DAY MORNING NEXT TO THE PARKING LOT IN CITY PARK. YOU CANNOT RACE WITHOUT A SIGNED WAIVER. Personal pick up is preferred, but you can have your bag picked up by a friend or relative if they identify themselves. However, all waivers must be signed by the person racing. On race morning, you will trade your signed waiver for a race chip.
If you cannot make these times, please contact the race director promptly to make other arrangements.
Capping the Swim
Due to the popularity of this event and its continuing growth in recent years, this year we are capping the swim at 450 swimmers, so, to guarantee a place in this year’s swim and a ferry ticket, REGISTER EARLY!
More Porta-Potties Than Ever!
We will now have 5 porta-potties at the start of the race. Please do not use the campers facilities nearby, as there were complaints about this last year. City Park also has permanent washroom facilities that are available. The houseboats of course, also have washroom facilities on board.
This time of year the weather is beautiful and the lake is warm, so get those registration forms and sign up.
Details
What: A 2.1 km linear swim course across Okanagan Lake. Time limit for the race is 90 minutes. The record of 20:49 was set back in 1997. The team record is 1:38:28 (all four times combined) set last year by the Wave Makers.
When: July 17th, Saturday morning 8:30 AM SHARP. Pick up registration packages from the new Fresh Air Concept, 555 Groves Ave., on the Thursday and Friday before the race from 5-8PM. This year there is NO race package pickup on the day of the race.
Where: The start will be at the Old Ferry Docks in West Kelowna. The course runs parallel to the north side of the new bridge and finishes at Hot Sands Beach in City Park. Click here for a map
Note: There is very limited parking at the start around the Old Ferry Docks. If you are driving to the race start on the Westside, please arrange to be dropped off at the start and picked up in City Park at the
Finish Line.
Kayakers & Canoeists: MUST NOT launch their boats from the old ferry docks. The start area is reserved for swimmers only! Please launch from an alternate location; City Park is recommended.
Please be aware that we have to ask permission from Westbank First Nations each year to use their beach access at the start of the race, and we are expected to leave the area as clean as we found it, so please do not litter, and please do not disturb the nearby campers.
We also have to gain permission annually from the City of Kelowna for the use of City Park, and therefore we request that all participants and their supporters be conscientious in their use of City Park, especially as it relates to littering. If we all do our part, the event will continue to be enjoyable and successful for many years to come.
Who: Anyone willing and capable. Those 18 years old and under must have a canoe or kayak escort. Teams of four can enter – each team member still swims individually, but we will combine the four times together and rank them against other teams of four.
Enter as a Team!
You and three additional people from your place of work, club, team, association, etc. can form a team. Each team member still swims the entire distance and is scored individually, but your combined individual times will also be ranked against other teams to see who wins and gets their names on the prestigious, and now historic Masters of The Lake Trophy! Teams can be a mix of recreational and competitive individuals with all team times being combined and ranked into one competitive team division.
Registration Deadline:
Registration is full!
What you get for the $60 fee:
- An opportunity to swim across the jewel of the Okanagan, and to reach a goal that relatively few have accomplished.
- A swim monitored by lifeguards on the water, and the RCMP Lake Patrol.
- Our soon-to-be-famous stylish beach towel!
- A highly visible souvenir swim cap.
- Automated Electronic Timing and your results posted on our website.
- Medals for top 3 overall in each individual age category, regardless of wave start.
- Food and drink for tired and hungry swimmers.
- Race insurance.
- Lots of door prizes, including a chance to win one of two Blue Seventy wetsuits, courtesy of Fresh Air. YOU HAVE TO BE A RACE ENTRANT AND PRESENT TO WIN.
Rules & Regulations:
For Swimmers:
- Wet suits are allowed and encouraged.
- Swim aids (fins, pull buoys, etc.) are not allowed.
- Swim caps that are supplied MUST be worn.
- Each junior swimmer (18 years & under) MUST be accompanied by at least two people in an escort boat. However, escort canoes and kayaks are highly recommended for all swimmers.
- Swimmers participating without an escort boat do so at their own risk.
- If you are unable to complete the swim (or do not start the swim), please inform a race official as soon as possible.
- If in trouble and you need help, stop, try to stay calm, and wave a hand above your head. A power boat or an escort boat should be by quickly to assist you. If an escort boat arrives before a power boat, have one of the paddlers to wave a paddle above their head to attract a power boat over.
For Support Boaters:
- There must be a PFD or lifejacket for each person in the boat plus one for the swimmer.
- Escort boats must stay clear of the start and finish lines. It is vital at the start area that escort boats watch their swimmer from afar and join them once swimmers thin out. Boats must not block the path of any swimmer as they maneuver to escort to meet their own swimmer.
- Please stay on the right (bridge) side of the swimmer all the way across the lake.
- Please do not enter your boat into the finish area or beach it there. Please paddle your boat to the right (bridge) side of the finish line and pull your boat up the beach.
- NO POWER BOATS ALLOWED except for designated volunteer patrol boats. Kayakers & Canoeists MUST NOT launch their boats from the old ferry docks.
- The start area is reserved for swimmers only! Please launch from an alternate location; City Park is recommended, then paddle across the lake to meet your swimmer and commence the swim at 8:30am. Please remove canoes and kayaks at the public boat launch at Hot Sands Beach after the awards ceremony.
- Good luck and have fun!
