Race Information

61 Years and Counting!

Be a part of the annual tradition and the only opportunity to swim all the way across the lake in an organized & fun event. Challenge yourself against others in your age category for medals and a special prize for the top male and female swimmers.

The swim course is unchanged from previous years, from the Old Ferry Docks in West Kelowna to Hot Sands Beach in City Park.

We will be using the two wave start again this year to provide more space and safety to swimmers. Swimmers will be divided into two divisions: competitive and recreational. The competitive group will start first and the recreational group will start 2 minutes after. Only swimmers in the competitive division will be eligible for medals, both divisions will be ranked separately, and every participant is in the running for the draw prizes. Both waves are timed. Swimmers must indicate their preferred division on the registration form and if you are not sure which division to choose, check out the previous year’s results.

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.

New this year!

House Boat Shuttle and Cruise.
The Okanagan Princess is a new luxury houseboat that we have been able to secure to both transport swimmers from City Park to the Old Ferry Dock, as well as to allow a limited number of spectators to enjoy the race from a moving “poolside” grandstand. We have offered this service in an attempt to relieve the very limited drop off and parking capacity on Old Ferry Wharf Road. Read more information about the shuttle at the bottom of this page.

Race Package Pickup
Due to the growing popularity of this race, we have now moved the race package pickup from the start line on race day to the new Mission location of Fresh Air Concept, 555 Groves Ave. Your race packages will now have a greener theme, courtesy of Save-On Foods – no more plastic bags! You can pick up your race package on:

Thursday, July 16 5-8PM
Friday, July 17 5-8PM

Your race package will include your racing chip, souvenir technical shirt, numbered cap, and other goodies.

If you cannot make these times, please contact the race director promptly to make other arrangements.

Capping the Swim
Open water swimming became an Olympic sport in Beijing last year, and our Across The Lake Swim has garnered international media exposure in recent years. Due to the popularity of this event and its continuing growth in recent years, this year we are capping the swim at 400 swimmers, so, to guarantee a place in this year’s swim and your technical shirt, 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.

Two Heats-Competitive and Recreational
Although new last year, we are again creating two heats to reduce swimming traffic. The first wave is the “Competitive Wave”, and will wear yellow caps. The second wave, which will start within a few minutes of the first wave, is the “Recreational Wave”, and will wear red caps. If you don’t want to get run over by faster swimmers, choose the second wave. Both waves will be timed.

The New Across The Lake Swim Website
This new website is the hard work of the KMSC’s webmaster Peter Rudd, and promises to be more dynamic than ever. Please check back to this site regularly for any updated race information.

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 18th, 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 will be very limited parking at the start around the Old Ferry Docks. 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 fours 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.

How: Entry forms are be available at both Fresh Air stores in Kelowna, downloadable from this website, or you can register directly online.

Registration Deadline: 6:00 PM SHARP Friday, July 17th. NO REGISTRATION ON RACE DAY!

UPDATE: JULY 17, 2009: ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

YOU MAY REGISTER AT FRESH AIR CONCEPT STORE UNTIL 6PM TONIGHT

What you get for the $45 fee ($55 after Saturday midnight, June 27th):

• 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 famously stylish technical t-shirt for entrants who register by July 5th (We will try our best, but we cannot guarantee shirts or sizes after that date).
• A highly visible souvenir yellow swim cap.
• Automated Electronic Timing and your results posted on our website.
• Medals for top 3 in each individual competitive age category. A trophy for the top team.
• 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!