I've been wondering about what are the major US Open Water Swims. By major, I mean the largest or the ones that are the single swim that people aim for in their area, oldest, most established, etc. I have a partial list which I think is probably partially correct, but I was wondering what I was missing and what mistakes I had made. And I do know that looking at US swims is provincial and that there are swims in other parts of the world that are larger and older than many of ours.
In California, I would put the La Jolla Roughwater, the Hermosa to Manhattan Pier to Pier, the Santa Cruz Roughwater swims, the DAM Lake Berryessa Swims, the RCP Tiburon Mile and any of the Alcatraz swims as being swims that attract 400 or more competitors and are major swims by any definition.
In Oregon, I think the Elk Lake swims put on by COMA are the largest, most successful swims. In Washington, I think it is the Fat Salmon. In Florida, I think that there is a Tampa Bay 5 K swim in the spring that is the largest. In the midwest, I think the Big Shoulders swim is the premeire event, and in the colonial zone, I think the Chesapeake Bridge Swim is the largest and most prominent. In Hawaii, the Waikiki Roughwater Swim is the main event, I think, in terms of size, age, prestige, etc.
But I was wondering what other people thought. My ulterior motive is partially curiousity and partially a desire to know what the different major swims are so that maybe I can try to swim some of them.
Thanks and I will be curious to see what responses I get, if any.
Parents
Former Member
Originally posted by Perkunas
What would be considered the open water swim to do in the continental United States, if a person could select only one?
Talk about a tough question... here are some candidates in the order that I would rank them (your mileage may vary):
1) Catalina Island to mainland (CA) - One of the world classic swims.
2) Manhattan Island Marathon (NY) - The Circle Line without a motor. 28.5 miles. Serious bragging rights if you finish this.
3) Atlantic City Marathon Swim (NJ) - Another FINA world cup event. Hard to get into unless you are a studmuffin. 21+ miles. Serious bragging rights if you finish this.
In the more human range:
1) Boston Light Swim (MA) - Arguably the oldest OW race in the U.S. 8 - 10 miles (depends on who you believe).
2) Tiburon Mile (CA) - Lots of major talent shows up for this one.
3) Bay Bridge Swim (MD) - 4.4 miles across the Chesapeake with 600 of your closest friends.
4) 10k for the USA (NJ) - A FINA world cup event this year that has a separate master's division.
Of course, there are also things like swims across the various Great Lakes, swimming down the Mississippi, etc.
-LBJ
Originally posted by Perkunas
What would be considered the open water swim to do in the continental United States, if a person could select only one?
Talk about a tough question... here are some candidates in the order that I would rank them (your mileage may vary):
1) Catalina Island to mainland (CA) - One of the world classic swims.
2) Manhattan Island Marathon (NY) - The Circle Line without a motor. 28.5 miles. Serious bragging rights if you finish this.
3) Atlantic City Marathon Swim (NJ) - Another FINA world cup event. Hard to get into unless you are a studmuffin. 21+ miles. Serious bragging rights if you finish this.
In the more human range:
1) Boston Light Swim (MA) - Arguably the oldest OW race in the U.S. 8 - 10 miles (depends on who you believe).
2) Tiburon Mile (CA) - Lots of major talent shows up for this one.
3) Bay Bridge Swim (MD) - 4.4 miles across the Chesapeake with 600 of your closest friends.
4) 10k for the USA (NJ) - A FINA world cup event this year that has a separate master's division.
Of course, there are also things like swims across the various Great Lakes, swimming down the Mississippi, etc.
-LBJ