Hi all,
So here is some info to keep in mind for next year… a whole series of open water swim races in beautiful Vermont! Phil White has started a very “LOST-like” swimming environment there and it too is thriving! A few LOSTies have even gone down and done some of the races and have nothing but good to say about them! So keep them in mind!
Cheers,
Rob
NEKOWSA – 2013 Swims
Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association
Indoor Recreation Orleans County, Derby Vermont
NEKOWSA was established in January of 2010 with the purpose to organize and promote swimming in the legendary lakes of the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and to raise funds for our rural area’s struggling, financially challenged sports, fitness, and recreation center, IROC. In 2012 NEKOWSA hosted seven swims, with over 375 swimmers signing on. Swimmers are now coming from 36 different states and three Canadian provinces and are travelling from as far away as Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, Great Britain and Mumbai, India. The events have been sanctioned by USMS and USA Swimming. They are challenging, totally fun, awesome venues, well supported and safety conscious swims for young and old alike. We are pleased to announce our expanded schedule of swims for 2013. In addition to Kingdom Swim, Seymour Swim, Willoughby Swim, and In Search of Memphre, we are very excited to be adding a number of other lakes to next year’s roster, plus an extraordinary 7 days of open water swimming over the course of 9 days from August 10th through August 17th. The Daily News of Open Water Swimming has selected Lake Memphremagog and Lake Willoughby as two of the 50 great open water swimming venues in all of the Americas. Hope you’ll join us to Swim the Kingdom.
June 15th: Son of a Swim — 2, 4,and 6 mile swims in Lake Memphremagog. (Qualifier for Kingdom Swim)(Cap 10)
July 6th: Kingdom Swim – 10 mile, 6 mile, 3 mile, 1 mile swims for adults and youth, plus ¼ mile and 100 yard swims for youth. On Lake Memphremagog, Kingdom Swim has been selected to host the national 9+mile USMS Open Water Championship in 2013. There will be two 10 mile waves this year. The Championship Wave and the non championship wave (youth, wetsuits, and those not competing for the championship.) The swim is held in conjunction with Aquafest, including The Frontier Animal Society’s Pet and Swimmers Parade on Friday evening before the swim. (Caps: 100 per 10 mile wave; 100 per 6, 3, and 1 mile course; 50 for the youth short courses.)
August 3rd: Seymour Swim – 3.5 mile and 1.75 mile swimming only option but also part of Kingdom Triathlon. (Cap 50)
August 10th: Crystal Swim – 4 mile swim under the cliffs and around the shores. (Cap 50)
August 11th: Island Pond Swim – 3 mile swim from Brighton State Park Beach around The Island and back. (Cap 25)
August 13th thru 15th – Swim the Kingdom — Daily Swims, short and long, at some spectacular venues (Cap 25)
August 17th: Willoughby Swim – a truly majestic 5 mile swim. (Cap 75)
August 18th: Caspian Swim – 3 miles to Bathtub Rock and back or 1.5 miles to The Rock, with shuttle back (Cap 50)
September 7th: In Search of Memphre – 25 Mile International Swim the length of Lake Memphremagog (Cap 20)
Unless otherwise noted, during the remainder of 2012, each 2013 swim requires payment of a $25 registration fee, plus a $100 minimum, tax deductible donation to IROC – a total of $125 per swim. Kayak rentals are available for $75. Yacker + kayak package is $200. Half of the yacker and kayak fees are considered a tax deductible donation to IROC. This year we are offering a “Season Pass” for a $100 fee and a $500 minimum donation to IROC. THE PASS entitles you to swim in any and all of the regular lake swims (including the three-day Swim the Kingdom) and special STATUS and RECOGNITION at all NEKOSWA functions. Special pricing applies to In Search of Memphre ($500 fee plus a minimum $1,000 tax deductible donation to IROC), and the three-day Swim the Kingdom ($50 fee and $200 minimum donation to IROC). Youth fees are $25 for those 10 and under and $50 per swim for those 18 and under with no minimum donation expected. Registration for all events (except for the Championship Wave of Kingdom Swim) will open on September 1, 2012 at www.kingdomswim.org/NEKOWSA.php. The caps for each event will be strictly enforced.
