2024 Fat Salmon Open Water Swim (3.2 miles)

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Registration Schedule

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*** On the final page of registration, please make sure to check the box under the USMS liability waiver, then check the Refund Policy box, then click the blue "Submit" button at the bottom of the page. Upon completing registration, a new page will open with your online confirmation.

You'll also receive an email from FatSalmonRegistrar@meets.clubassistant.com with your registration information and web entry ID number. Please check your spam folder just in case it ends up there by mistake.***

WHEN: Saturday, July 27, 2024

WHERE: MADISON PARK BEACH on Lake Washington  (1900 43rd Ave E, Seattle WA) - Pre-race check-in and finish line of the swim

COURSE: Point-to-point course will follow the western shore of the lake from I-90 in a straight line marked with buoys.  In water start immediately offshore from Day Street Boat Ramp, finish across timing mats on shore at Madison Park Beach; participants will need to ascend 4 stairs at the completion of this race. Water temperatures are typically 67-73 degrees fahrenheit during the summer but can vary significantly; be prepared for a cold swim. See RACE MAP.

RACE-DAY SCHEDULE:

• 6:00 - 7:00 AM: MANDATORY Check-in
• 7:05 AM: Pre-Race Meeting - MANDATORY for all swimmers
• 7:20 AM: Carpool to 3.2-mile start at Day Street Boat Ramp (1402 Lakeside Ave S, Seattle, WA)
• 8:15 AM: Start 1st wave from Day Street Boat Ramp, swimmers will be sent off in 5 separate waves scheduled every 3 minutes.

SAFETY: Large buoys (approx. every 1/2 mile) will mark the course. Motor boats, kayaks and lifeguards will be located along the perimeter of the course. Swimmers must wear the swim caps provided at check-in. A MANDATORY safety meeting will be held before the event start. Friends and family who are not registered for this event cannot swim along with you. 

RACE CONTINGENCY PLAN: In case of water quality issues at Madison Park Beach and city required beach closures, we have secured permits to use Madrona Beach as an alternative pre-race and finish site. Please see map on website (Courses Maps, bottom) for details. Any changes will be posted to the website and emails will be sent to the primary email address listed on your registration.

RULES: Current USMS rules will govern this event. Wetsuits and full-body swimsuits are allowed in the wetsuit division. In the unlikely event that the water temperature exceeds 78 degrees fahrenheit, wetsuits will not be allowed. No additional devices to help speed, pace, buoyancy, or endurance are allowed (such as music players, pull buoys, webbed gloves, fins, snorkels, etc.). Any questions, refer to USMS guidelines. Due to the large number of swimmers, personal float buoys for identification and safety are not permitted without special advance permission of race director. Those who use a personal float buoy will be classified in the "wet suit" division per USMS rules.

MORE ABOUT SAFETY & PULLING SWIMMERS: We must maintain a certain swimmer-to-boat ratio to keep our permit AND, more importantly, to keep everyone safe. Swimmers will have 2 hours to complete this event; Swimmers who fall too far behind the back or are not on pace to complete the swim within 2 hours will be pulled from the course at 1.5 mile and 2.5 mile markers.

MORE RULES:

• Sorry, there are not any refunds or exchange of entries for any reason. There is NO filling of no-show slots. Someone else cannot swim for you, as this jeopardizes our insurance and our ability to offer this event in the future.
• Do not register for this event if your estimated time to complete this 3.2 mile open water swim is more than 2 hours. When you register you will be asked to provide an estimated time to complete this open water swim so we may assign you to the proper wave group.
• There will be NO SWIMMING if you have not checked in ON TIME and attended the pre-race safety meeting.
• Swimmers are required to check in as they enter the water at race start and check out as they exit the water at the race finish. Please do not just leave the race.
• To ensure swimmer safety, we may need to cancel the race due to unforeseen circumstances (e.g., extreme weather or water conditions). We will do our best to hold the event. We're sorry, but in the event of such a cancellation, we probably cannot provide refunds or deferrals, as race costs are all incurred prior to the race and are non-refundable.

TRANSPORTATION / PARKING / CARPOOLING:  There is limited parking in the area of the event so carpooling is encouraged as much as possible. We are guests of the neighborhoods for this event so please observe and respect parking regulations. Swimmers are responsible for their own transportation from the check-in location at Madison Park Beach to the race start at Day Street Boat Launch (3 miles). We will encourage the formation of carpools at the conclusion of the pre-race safety meeting. Offer a ride to a fellow swimmers and fill up your car if driving to the starting point. If you got a ride to the starting point, please offer a ride back to the starting point after the race to your driver.

COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS: We will conduct the event in accordance with local health guidelines related to preventing the spread of COVID-19 if applicable. Attendees should be prepared to comply with these guidelines such as face covering requirements should they be necessary.

AWARDS: Each registered participant will be given one 2024 Fat Salmon event t-shirt, size to be selected during registration. Awards will be available for the top three finishers in all 5-yr age groups, in both divisions. Your age as of December 31, 2024 determines your age group for awards. Special prizes will be awarded to the fastest male and female swimmers in both the wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions of the 3.2-Mile Race.

MERCHANDISE: Fat Salmon 2024 Hoodies are available to order during the registration process for $40 through June 15th only. The artwork on hoodie will match the artwork on the front of the t-shirt. All merchandise must be picked up at the event. 

ELIGIBILITY:

• Swimmers must be 18 years of age as of July 27, 2024 AND:
  • Currently registered with USMS or FINA or Canadian Masters Swimming (FINA or Canadian Masters swimmers must email proof of current year Masters registration valid on the date of the event to fatsalmonregistrar@gmail.com) 
  • OR pay an additional $20 “One-Event USMS Registration” fee.

Entry fees (pre-registration only available online):

$85.00 – by May 31st
$95.00 – June 1 - June 20
$105.00 - June 21 - July 20
$110.00 - Late Registration and Day of Race (not available this year)
$20.00 – "One-Event" USMS registration (as needed, see eligibility)
Online Entries are paid by credit card to "Fat Salmon"

WANT TO SWIM FOR FREE?: We are offering a free registration in the form of a refund AFTER THE EVENT if you provide two kayak/paddleboard volunteers (each with their own kayaks or SUPs) OR one motorboat adult volunteer with their one motorcraft on the day of the event. This refund is only for the Fat Salmon entry fee (excludes one-event USMS registration fee if applicable). To ensure we know a kayak/SUP/boating volunteer is volunteering on your behalf, have them let us know when they register to volunteer at: fatsalmonkayakers@gmail.com (for kayakers and SUPS) and fatsalmonpowerboaters@gmail.com (for power boaters).

REGULAR REGISTRATION CLOSES on July 20th at 11:59 pm PDT or sooner if full to capacity.
If space permits, late registration will be offered starting July 25th. 

WETSUIT and NON-WETSUIT DIVISION CHANGES: If you are already registered and want to change from non-wetsuit to wetsuit division (or vice-versa), it is easiest for you and for us if you submit this change via email fatsalmonregistrar@gmail.com by end of day July 21st. If you are not sure by July 21st, you can do so the morning of the event by requesting this change at the "change" table. The US Masters Swimming Rule Book section for Open Water Events is strict about what qualifies as "non-wetsuit". Article 303.4 says Category I Swimwear (non-wetsuit) can only include "a swimsuit, cap or caps [including neoprene], and goggles". If it doesn't fit Category I then it is Category II - wetsuit.

IMPORTANT LINKS: Facebook, FS FAQs, Safety and Time Guidelines

VOLUNTEERING:  This is a volunteer-run event. If you know someone who may want to vounteer, please let us know. All volunteers get a free Fat Salmon t-shirt. Power boat volunteers also receive additional compensation (see www.fatsalmonswim.com). You can reach us at the following email addresses:

Beachside/Dry-land Volunteers: fatsalmonvolunteers@gmail.com
Kayakers/SUPs: fatsalmonkayakers@gmail.com 
Power Boats: fatsalmonpowerboaters@gmail.com

If you have questions about your registration contact Cathy Yu, Fat Salmon Registration Coordinator via email at fatsalmonregistrar@gmail.com.  

Still have questions? Contact Paul Glezen, Race Director
via email: fatsalmonracedir2@gmail.com

Meet Course:

Note: If paying by credit card, your credit card statement will reflect a charge from "FAT SALMON SWIM."