Major Correction:
This is no longer a USMS-sponsored swim.
Kingdom Swim will go on as planned, under the aegis of WOWSA (World Open Water Swimming Association). There will be a 10-mile WOWSA championship swim. Edited March 3, 2013
Kingdom Swim takes place on Saturday, July 6, Lake Memphremagog, northern VT. 1-, 3-, 6-, and 10-mile courses for adults; youth get a 1/4- mile swim in addition:
www.kingdomswim.org
The 10-mile course offers both a championship wave (for those vying for the USMS OW champioship) and a non-championship wave.
A qualifying swim is available at 2-, 4-, and 6-mile distances for those who need it.
New this year is a phat week of swimming multiple lakes in August, called Swim the Kingdom:
www.kingdomswim.org/NEKOWSA.php
NEKOWSA (Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association) is putting this lovely, woodsy area on the map as a destination for swimming in the Northeast.
I've stayed at the Newport City Motel (as have many other swimmers). It's basic, not fancy, inexpensive, close to swimming venue.
Others have stayed in B&Bs.
Jay Peak is a bit far from the main activities; I stayed there one year when I was too late to get a room at Newport City Motel.
I would avoidthe Newport City Motel like the plague. It is not well run. It does sell outearly for that weekend. I would recommend the Super8 which is less than a mileaway from the lake up 105 back toward 91. If you like camping, you can camp atIROC for next to nothing. IROC is just behind the Super8. Or camp at the ProutyBeach camp ground. It is right at the event site, but it is mostly RV campers.
Major Change:
Kingdom Swim is no longer a USMS-sponsored swim (the details appear on the Marathon Swimmers site and have been emailed to participants). The swim will go on as planned, under the aegis of WOWSA, World Open Water Swimming Association. There will be a 10-mile WOWSA championship wave.
(Posted March 3, 2013)
I suggest those interested in swimming this swim, the Swim the Kingdom series, or any of the other, many swims planned by NEKOWSA (Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association) this summer hie to Marathon Swimmers (you don't need to be a marathon swimmer, just have a special interest in OW).
How was it?
It was pretty similar to last year. Overcast at the start changing to partly cloudy and then sunny as the day wore on.
Also like last year, there was a westerly wind that gained strength as the day went on meaning that on the return trip down the east side of the lake there were some waves and a few white caps out there.
Nothing really big but enough to make you wish you knew how to breathe to the left (if you can't).
There were two young guys who put it in some spanking times. One guy was 3:38 (race record I think) and another was 3:43 I think.
I personally was ten minutes faster than last year and was pretty happy about that.
