Open Water Events - Recent Threads

Grand Prix Open Water Challenge Series start April 12th!

Nicole Christensen — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 21:51:51 GMT

The Grand Prix Open Water Challenge begins on April 12^th and kicks off with the Lake Longhorn Open Water Round-Up in League City, TX close to the Houston Space Center. REGISTRATION IS OPEN NOW.

It will be followed on May 3^rd by the Rockport Beach Open Water Challenge in beautiful Rockport, TX along the Texas gulf coast. The series continues July 12^th with the OWS Challenge in Joe Poole Lake in Cedar Hill, TX near Dallas and winds up on Oct 17^th and 18^th in Lake Marble Falls outside of Austin with the Marble Falls Banana Slug Splash which will have a 1K, 3K and 5K. More races may be added as we go into the season.

Each race offers a short, medium and long-distance option for swimmers to choose from. The six scoring categories are women’s short, medium and long distance and men’s short, medium and long distance. Points are awarded for 1^st through 10^th place in each scoring category with points accumulating throughout the series. The 1^st through 3^rd place swimmers with the most points at the final race of the series will when the series awards. All swimmers who participate is all races of the series will also win an award, even if they do not score any points.

For more information, contact Nicole at ncr@creativewaters.net.

SCAR Swim - Paddler needed

0K2HP — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 02:05:44 GMT

Hi,

I would like to swim SCAR next April( April 22-25). To do so, I need an experienced paddler to be my crew member over the 4 days. Is there anyone interested?

Thanks!

Open Water Events to Avoid

saraed77 — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:57:14 GMT

Is there a thread that discusses open water events to avoid or seriously research?

I swam in a non-USMS-sanctioned open water event this weekend, and I pulled out because the on-water safety was very insufficient.

I don't want to bash the race organizers, but maybe it would be helpful if there was a thread to alert swimmers to these events.

Open water event

Annkmarshfield — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:39:48 GMT

Can an Open Water Event Director also be the Safety Director?

Thanks

RE: Open water event

Annkmarshfield — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 15:11:41 GMT

Robin, This is what I thought. Thanks.

RE: Open water event

robinmsmith — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 02:06:33 GMT

The person who serves as Safety Director for a USMS sanctioned open water event needs to complete (and pass) the USMS Safety Director Test. It is open book. There are individuals who are "independent" who have taken the test and serve as Safety Director for some USMS sanctioned open water events.

Here is the link:

www.usms.org/.../open-water-certification-programs

In my LMSC, we have had beach lifeguards.and others employed/contracted by the host who have taken the test to be the Safety Director for some of our events.

RE: Open water event

Annkmarshfield — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:25:23 GMT

Can the Safety Director be the permitting authority's contractor? (A water safety organization- non-profit - for which the event is now required to pay $500 for this service and relinquish control of all safety aspects of the event for the in-water component.) I would say a USMS Safety Director is still needed - but I don't know. Please advise

RE: Open water event

Annkmarshfield — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 00:15:26 GMT

Robin, that is exactly how I read it. And yet in the safety plan which I believe has been approved the Safety Director position is listed as TBD..........How is that even okay?

RE: Open water event

robinmsmith — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 19:10:08 GMT

Hi Ann

The two positions need to be different individuals according to the rules. The names and contact information for the two roles are entered into the Safety Plan and Sanction Request Form for the Open Water Event.

USMS Rulebook - Part 3 Article 303.3.1

If dual sanctioning the event, USA Swimming Rulebook - Part Seven Article 701.7 and 701.8

Thank you for your question.

Robin Smith

VP of Programs

2024 Barbados Open Water Festival 11/6-11/11

05EXJ — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 01:01:22 GMT

Who’s coming and which events are you swimming??
I am registered for the three social swims with dinner, the 1500 Saturday and the 10K Sunday.

BEX

Purepactola

AW9S7 — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 23:17:33 GMT

Is Purepactola a sanctioned event? Held at Pactola lake July 18/24

Thanks Charlie

RE: Purepactola

Kyle Deery — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:43:09 GMT

AW9S7, it doesn't look like it has been a sanctioned open water swim in a few years. It is pretty easy for the event director to get it sanctioned and USMS is offering additional incentives for events to sanction with them. Try the event director to see if they will sanction:

Dave Fenske

davef@fenskemedia.com

(605) 737-3863

RE: Cuba Open Water Event

05XRF — Tue, 09 May 2023 19:34:04 GMT

Mel, this sounds great. Are you organizing a group?

Cuba Open Water Event

Mel — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 01:37:11 GMT

On August 23-26, there will be an Open Water event in Varadero Beach, Cuba. If you ever wanted to go to Cuba, this is a great opportunity to see this beautiful country and enjoy the Cuba Culture.

[View:/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/1248/Convocatoria-open-water--English-_2800_1_2900_-_2800_2_2900_.pdf:320:240]

Swimming License

JEDEZ — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:38:04 GMT

I an entering an international open water swim and they are requesting a copy of my "swimming license", what is that?

Thanks,

Deidre

RE: Swimming License

Jay Eckert — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 14:07:07 GMT

JEDEZ This is likely referring to your USMS membership card. This can be accessed through your My USMS page.

https://community.usms.org/p/myusms

For international athletes to enter events such as USMS Nationals, we require proof of membership for the governing body of swimmers' home country.

Good luck with the swim!

RE: Swimming License

FMUGH — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 19:01:20 GMT

Ah good guess! I live in Istanbul part time, it's an incredible event, you'll love it! Happy training 🙂

RE: Swimming License

JEDEZ — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 17:50:45 GMT

Yes it is!!!! So Excited! The only current assisted swim I have done is the Escape from Alcatraz (skin only) and it was awesome. I live in Colorado so local open water swims are lake only. Can't wait to do another current assist swim. All my training will be masters until the weather warms then open water at the local reservoir so the 6.5K will take closer to 2hrs.

Thanks,

Deidre

RE: Swimming License

FMUGH — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 17:06:05 GMT

Is this for the Bosphorus swim by chance? In Turkey they issue swimming licenses to competitive athletes, masters included. Your USMS membership card should be enough though they may ask for a health report as well (a requirement for their license)

RE: Swimming License

06XW7 — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 14:18:32 GMT

For many open water events they require something like a resume to make sure the competitor will be able to complete the event. This may just be a case of lost in translation.

RE: Swimming License

ForceDJ — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 18:25:18 GMT

That’s a new one to me. If you Google “International Swimming License” the things that come up are only regarding coaching certifications, lifeguarding, and a few for Paralympic swimmers. Nothing about swimmer certification, or anything like that.

Dan

RE: Straits of Magellan

Kyle Deery — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 17:50:24 GMT

We are looking into adding other badges in future years. We will put this one on the list. Thanks!
For now, you can add some text about it to your biography.

Straits of Magellan

030CC — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 11:53:39 GMT

I completed the Straits of Magellan yesterday and wonder how I can have it credited to my profile. It might be interesting to other swimmers also especially older swimmers (I’m 64). See https://www.facebook.com/groups/452473925645010/permalink/1163361321222930/?mibextid=W9rl1R

Thanks for any help to add this to my profile

RE: Straits of Magellan

089UX — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 20:30:14 GMT

Wow congratulations!

Open Water Safety Clinic (virtual)

Jay Eckert — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 21:41:07 GMT

Here is a virtual clinic on open water safety presented by [mention:3d7ddc66abfa49759fed08d0b7adfd38:e9ed411860ed4f2ba0265705b8793d05] and the Long Distance Committee at their meeting last night. Nice resource for both beginner and experienced open water swimmers.

https://www.usms.org/fitness-and-training/articles-and-videos/videos/usms-open-water-safety-clinic

And here is another virtual clinic from last year.

https://www.usms.org/fitness-and-training/articles-and-videos/videos/open-water-virtual-clinic