World's Top 100 Open Water Swims

OK, I'm a homer but have traveled to many of the races on this list, La Jolla Roughwater multiple times, Alcatraz Challenge, Big Shoulders, Wakiki Roughwater but I have to give kudo's and nominate my home state race the Horsetooth Open Water Swim in Fort Collins, Colorado for a top 100 position. -Longevity, the event started in 1999 and has had no missing years, even in inclement weather. -USMS National 10K Championship in 2006. -The 10K race is a unique point to point race for a inland location. -Grown to include other races beyond the 10K such as; the popular 2.4 mile length and several USA Swimming sanctioned race lengths, introducing many young swimmers to there first open water racing experience. -High altitude, about a mile high. -Beautiful location nestled against the Rocky Mountains, many times you will see deer on banks as you swim by, in fact Rocky Mountain National Park is just 35 miles west. -Race is core to a surprising large Colorado open water & marathon swimming community*. Many swimmers have done this race have gone on to do the English Channel, Catalina Channel etc., for example 2010 Colorado swimmers had at least four successful individual and two relays crossing of the English Channel, and four successful individual crossings of the Catalina, those swimmers started there interest in marathon swimming at this event. Other channel crossers from Colorado over the years did this race first. This includes Triple Crown swimmer Craig Lennings. -Well organized by people with a passion for this sport. *Colorado is one of the most physically active states per capita, in the United States. Were known for the obvious like skiing, hiking etc., but were surprisingly big in aquatics for an inland state. We have one of highest percentages of USMS registered swimmers in the U.S. Last year we may have had more swimmers successfully swim a channel then any other state. Were very high in the level of Scuba diving certifications. Boulder, CO (just down the road from Horsetooth) might be considered the triathlon training capital of the U.S.

OK, I'm a homer but have traveled to many of the races on this list, La Jolla Roughwater multiple times, Alcatraz Challenge, Big Shoulders, Wakiki Roughwater but I have to give kudo's and nominate my home state race the Horsetooth Open Water Swim in Fort Collins, Colorado for a top 100 position. -Longevity, the event started in 1999 and has had no missing years, even in inclement weather. -USMS National 10K Championship in 2006. -The 10K race is a unique point to point race for a inland location. -Grown to include other races beyond the 10K such as; the popular 2.4 mile length and several USA Swimming sanctioned race lengths, introducing many young swimmers to there first open water racing experience. -High altitude, about a mile high. -Beautiful location nestled against the Rocky Mountains, many times you will see deer on banks as you swim by, in fact Rocky Mountain National Park is just 35 miles west. -Race is core to a surprising large Colorado open water & marathon swimming community*. Many swimmers have done this race have gone on to do the English Channel, Catalina Channel etc., for example 2010 Colorado swimmers had at least four successful individual and two relays crossing of the English Channel, and four successful individual crossings of the Catalina, those swimmers started there interest in marathon swimming at this event. Other channel crossers from Colorado over the years did this race first. This includes Triple Crown swimmer Craig Lennings. -Well organized by people with a passion for this sport. *Colorado is one of the most physically active states per capita, in the United States. Were known for the obvious like skiing, hiking etc., but were surprisingly big in aquatics for an inland state. We have one of highest percentages of USMS registered swimmers in the U.S. Last year we may have had more swimmers successfully swim a channel then any other state. Were very high in the level of Scuba diving certifications. Boulder, CO (just down the road from Horsetooth) might be considered the triathlon training capital of the U.S.