17th Annual Cascade Lakes Swim Series & Festival

 

 

 

 

  

LOCATION: Elk Lake, a beautiful, clear mountain lake nestled in the sunny Oregon Cascades 33 miles from Bend. Water temperature has varied from 67-72 degrees Fahrenheit and will be posted on race days.

 

RACES: The Cascade Lakes Swim Series features five open water swims over three days. Adult participants may enter any or all of the five swims. Friday’s swim is a 3000-meter swim on a triangular course. Saturday’s swims are an individual 500-meter time trial on an out-and-back continuous floating line course and a 1500-meter swim around a triangular course. Sunday’s swims will include a 5000-meter swim consisting of three loops of a diamond & triangular course and a 1000-meter swim on an irregular course following the shoreline.

 

SERIES: The Cascade Lakes Swim Series includes a Short Series (500, 1000, & 1500-meter swims) and a Long Series (1500, 3000, & 5000-meter swims). Each swimmer may enter one distance series only and must complete all three series swims to be eligible for series awards. For series awards, points will be based on finish order in each race, with a Category II suit deduction (see below). Swimmers who complete all FIVE swims will be eligible for special Survivor awards.

 

FESTIVAL: Elk Lake is a great place to bring your family for an outdoors experience and extravaganza. We plan fun events for children on Saturday morning, and fun events for adults all the time!

 

ELIGIBILITY: Open ONLY to 2011 USMS member swimmers. USMS swimmers may enter any of the swims. A legible photocopy of your 2011 USMS membership card (or foreign equivalent) MUST accompany mailed entries. USMS “One-Event” membership—covering all of these races—is available for adults 18+ only for $18. 

 

RULES: Current USMS rules will govern this event.  

 

CATEGORY II SUITS: Category II suits—including wetsuits—are welcomed in all five swims, but scored in a separate category. 10% of final time will be added to Category II suit swims for integration into our Series scoring. See event website for swimwear details.

 

STARTS & SEEDING: The 1500, 3000 & 5000-meter swims will use a mass start. The 500-meter swim will use an individual start and the 1000-meter swim will start in small heats; both of these swims will be seeded fastest-to-slowest based on entered 500-yard time. Day-of-Race entries and those not submitting a seed time will not be seeded in advance and will swim last. No changes allowed in seeding times at the race, so enter accurately.

 

SAFETY—OUR PRIMARY CONCERN: Safety boats will monitor the entire course and medical personnel will be on-site. Swimmers must wear a brightly colored swim cap, have their race number on their arms or hands, and follow all announced safety rules without exception.

 

REGISTRATION: Save time, paper, and errors by registering online. Paper entries should be postmarked by July 18th. Entries postmarked July 19-23 must pay an additional $10 late fee—do not mail after July 23! Entries after this date will be considered to be Day-of-Race entries and must pay an additional $20. Online registration is available until Midnight Pacific Time, Saturday July 23, 2011 and subject to the fee increases as stated above. Submit your entries on time—it really helps our planning for a great event!

 

ENTRY FEES: One race is $30, and each additional race is $5 more. Entry fee includes a swim cap and post-swim meals on your race days.  

 

 

4:30-5:30 PM  Registration/Check-In for 3000-meter race

6:00 PM  Start of 3000-meter race 

 

7:45-8:45 AM  Registration/Check-In for 500 & 1500-meter races

9:30 AM  Start of 500-meter race

10:15-11:00 AM  Registration/Check-in for the 1500-meter

11:45 AM  Start of 1500-meter race

 

7:15-8:15 AM  Registration/Check-In for 5000 & 1000-meter races

8:45 AM  Start of 5000-meter race 

10:00-11:00 AM  Registration/Check-In for the 1000-meter race

11:45 AM  Start of 1000-meter race

 

 

RESULTS: Will be posted at Elk Lake promptly after each race, and at www.comaswim.org and www.swimoregon.org after the event.

 

AWARDS: USMS age groups are 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, and so on in five-year increments.

Awards to individual swimmers by age group:

• Ribbons to the top three finishers in each age group in each race in both suit categories.

• Ceramic coasters to the top 3 Series finishers in each age group.

Awards to individual swimmers regardless of age group:

• Ceramic mug to the top masters male & female in each Series.

• Special Survivor glass mug to everyone completing all five swims.

 

OREGON OPEN WATER SERIES: All swims count towards the cumulative Oregon Masters season series. The 1500 & 5000 are featured swims (full points), while the 500, 1000, & 3000-meter swims are qualifying swims (half points).

 

DIRECTIONS (Mapquest: Elk Lake): From Century Drive in Bend, take the Cascade Lakes Scenic Highway approximately 33 miles to Elk Lake. The start & finish for all swims is the Beach Day Use Area, the southernmost and last Elk Lake exit if coming from Bend.

 

PARKING: Parking is limited to two large pullouts off the Cascades Lakes Highway and to the Little Fawn Group Campground. A shuttle bus will run Saturday & Sunday between the campground and the race site before & during registration and after races are completed. There will be no general parking at the race site until after event activities have concluded. Your car must display a 2011 NW Forest Pass to park anywhere other than the highway pullouts or campground.

 

CAMPING & LODGING: Little Fawn Group Campground on Elk Lake is reserved for swimmers & spectators Thursday through Sunday. Only tents or small motor homes are permitted. Camping fee is $5 per camper over 12 years of age per day—include fee with your entry form to secure your limited spot. Bend and Sunriver offer many lodging choices at various price levels.

 

DOGS: NO DOGS at Elk Lake (USFS Rule), but they may be in the campground on a leash. Never leave your dog unattended in a car!

 

WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE INFO: www.comaswim.org