2011 USMS 2.4 Mile Open Water National Championship 9th Annual Madison Open Water Swim (MOWS)

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Registration Schedule

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Saturday, August 20, 2011 8:30 am at Lake Monona, Law Park, Madison, Wisconsin

Sponsored by Wisconsin Masters Aquatic Club - Madison Area Masters

http://www.ClubAssistant.com/MOWS2011

USMS 2.4 Mile National Championship Open Water Swim

Wave 1 - USMS 2.4 mile Open Water National Championship race (USMS annual members & no wetsuits)

Madison Open Water Swim

Wave 2a - 2.4 mile Madison Open Water Swim race (no wetsuits)

Wave 2b - 2.4 mile Madison Open Water Swim race (wetsuits allowed)

Wave 3a - 1.2 mile Madison Open Water Swim race (no wetsuits)

Wave 3b - 1.2 mile Madison Open Water Swim race (wetsuits allowed)

All swimmers will start in the water and finish on the beach utilizing electronic timing chips. There will be three starting waves as described in the Event PDF file. The National Championship event is the first wave.

This is a 1.2 mile rectangular course in the same location as Ironman Wisconsin which is scheduled for the following month. View the course and event layout in the Event PDF file. The course is well marked with eighteen orange buoys, patrolled by lifeguards and volunteers in a variety of watercraft. The past water temperatures for this event have been 72 to 77 degrees F.

Final Results & Photos

Results are posted on Online Race Results.

Browse and download the Picasa photo gallery of the race.  This is the first year we will be offering this service!

When

Saturday, August 20, 2011. Event check-in begins at 7:00 am. The mandatory pre-swim briefing starts at 8:15 am. You must exit the water after warming up and attend the pre-swim briefing. The swim events start at 8:30 am. Detailed safety instructions will be given at this time.

Where

Law Park on Lake Monona,100 E John Nolen Dr, Madison, Wisconsin.  Parking and hotels are available in several nearby locations as marked in the Location PDF file.  More lodging may found at: http://www.visitmadison.com/visitors/stay/hotels/.

Eligibility

Open to all swimmers 18 years and over as of August 20, 2011.  Please judge your own ability level prior to registering for this race.  In order to participate in the swim, you should to be able to swim 500 yards in 13 minutes.  Otherwise, you will not make the time limits and will not finish the race.  The National Championship event does not have any time limits.

Because this is a USMS sanctioned event, 2011 USMS or FINA membership is required. There are two membership options:

1. Annual USMS membership  Annual USMS or FINA membership is required to enter the USMS National Championship race.
2. One Event membership ($18.00, which is not available for the National Championship event)

Foreign swimmers are not eligible for USMS records or All-American status.

How to Enter/Register

Registration online is preferred. The entry fee is $30.00 if received before 5:00 pm CST on Wednesday, August 10 or $50.00 if received before registration closes at 5:00 pm CST on Wednesday, August 17.  Paper entries for the National Championship must be post marked by Wednesday, August 10 and will have an additional $5.00 processing fee.  To request a paper entry form for the USMS 2.4 Mile Open Water National Championship, please email swim.mows@gmail.com. There will be no registration (including race day) after 5:00 pm CST on August 17.

Foreign swimmers are not eligible for USMS records or All-American status.

Registration is limited to 500 swimmers for the non-championship events. The National Championship event does not have limit. A photo ID (driver's license), USMS membership and event registration verification may be required at check-in. You will be required to sign a liability waiver at check-in.

A MOWS 2011 t-shirt is available for purchase for an additional $12.00. The shirt is tan, 100% cotton, and is printed on the front with the MOWS 2011 logo. Shirts must be ordered during registration no later than August 10, 2011 and must be picked up during check-in. 

Event Details

Schedule: The detailed schedule and event map can be found in the Event PDF file.

Safety/Rules: The race course will be patrolled by a variety of water craft and certified lifeguards. Current 2011 U.S. Masters Swimming rules will govern this event and a USMS judge will serve as starter. If the water temperature is above 78 degrees F, no wetsuits will be allowed.  Detailed safety instructions and USMS rules are included in the Safety PDF file. Detailed safety instructions will be given at the pre-race briefing.

Timing: Electronic timing will be used.  Each swimmer will wear an electronic timing chip on an ankle bracelet to automatically record their time. Timing chips must be returned after crossing the finish line or a $30 charge will be assessed to the swimmer.

Food: Bagels, fruit, water and other refreshments will be available after the swim.

National Championship Awards and Results: USMS long distance championship medals will be awarded to the top 6 men and women in each age group. USMS long distance championship patches will be awarded to the winner of each age group. Results will be posted at http://www.usms.org.

Awards and Results: Awards will be given for each age group only after the event is over. Age groups will be 18-24, 25-29, 30-34 . . . (continuing in 5 year increments). Awards will also be separated into wetsuit and non-wetsuit categories for each age group. Race day results will be posted only after each event is over. Results will also be posted later on this website.

For questions or more information on MOWS, please email swim.mows@gmail.com

Volunteer

If you would like to be a MOWS volunteer, please email volunteer.mows@gmail.com. Some areas needing volunteers:

• Swimmer check-in stations.
• Pre-event set up.
• Post-event clean up.
• Kayak swimmer watcher support (need to have own kayak).
• Boat evacuation/rescue support (need to have own boat).

Sponsors

• Raw Revolution
• Bagels Forever

Great Lakes Open Water Swim Series (GLOWS)

MOWS 2011 is a part of the Great Lakes Open Water Swim Series (GLOWS). The GLOW Series is organized by USMS and includes open water swims in 7 cities throughout the Great Lakes region. More information about the events can be found at: http://www.greatlakeszone.com/GLOWS2011.pdf.

Note: If paying by credit card, your credit card statement will reflect a charge from "ClubAssistant.com Events."