22nd Annual Cascade Lakes Swim Series & Festival 2016

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Registration Schedule

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Entries completed by July 18 will pay the normal fees.  
Entries completed July 19-23 must pay a $10 late fee.  
The on-line entry system will close on July 23 at midnight PDT.

LOCATION:  Elk Lake, a beautiful, clear mountain lake nestled in the sunny Oregon Cascades 33 miles from Bend.  Water temperature is expected to be 66-69 degrees F. and will be posted on race days.

FESTIVAL:  Elk Lake is a great place to bring your family for a fine outdoors experience and extravaganza. Think FESTIVAL!

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 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.  The 1500-meter swim will serve as the NW Zone 1500-meter Open Water Championships.

SWIM SCHEDULE (subject to change due to conditions):
Friday, July 29, 2016
4:30—5:30pm             Registration/Check-In for 3000-meter swim
6:00pm                       Start of 3000-meter swim
Saturday, July 30, 2016
7:45—8:45am             Registration/Check-In for 500 & 1500-meter swims
9:15am                       Start of 500-meter swim
10:15—11:00am          Registration/Check-in for the 1500-meter swim
11:30am                       Start of 1500-meter swim—the NW Zone Open Water Championships!
Sunday, July 31, 2016
7:15 am—8:15am        Registration/Check-In for 5000 & 1000-meter
8:45 am                      Start of 5000-meter swim
10:00—11:00am          Registration/Check-In for the 1000-meter swim
11:45 am                     Start of 1000-meter swim
Pre-race instructions 15 minutes before each start time.  A picnic lunch or dinner will follow the finish of swims each day.

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 (10% time penalty).  Swimmers who complete all FIVE swims will win special Survivor awards.  Entry in all series is free, so don’t pass up this additional chance for glory!

ELIGIBILITY:  Open ONLY to 2016 USMS members or foreign equivalents, who must be adults 18+ on Friday, July 29, 2016.  USMS “One-Event” membership is available for adults only for $21.

RULES:  USMS rules will govern this event.  Category II suits—including wetsuits—are welcomed in all swims, but scored in a separate category.  See event website for swimwear details.

STARTS & SEEDING:  The 1500, 3000, and 5000-meter swims will use a mass start.  The 500-meter swim will have individual starts and the 1000-meter swim will start in small heats; both swims will be seeded fastest-to-slowest based on 500-yard seed 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 accurate times.

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—ONLINE ONLY (except Day-of-Race entries):  Entries received by July 18 will pay the normal fees.  Entries received July 19-23 must pay a $10 late fee.   The online entry system will close on July 23 at Midnight PDST.  After that, swimmers may only enter at the event site as a Day-of-Race entry, which requires a $20 late fee.  Save some cash--submit your entries on time!

ENTRY FEES:  One race is $35, and each additional race is $5 more.  Entry fee includes a swim cap and post-swim meals on your race days.

SANCTION SURCHARGE:  There is a required $5 per swimmer surcharge to help cover the cost of USMS-mandated sanction fee, which covers event insurance.

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

AWARDS:  Age groups are standard USMS age groups.

   Awards to individual swimmers by age group:

• Ribbons to three places in each age group in all other swims 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.

T-SHIRTS:  Custom Elk Lake event t-shirts will be available for purchase by swimmers who register by July 18. $12 for the first t-shirt (2XL $14), $16 for extra t-shirts (2XL $18).

MEALS:  Swimmers will receive post-swim meals on the days of their swims.  Specatator meals are $8, payable with entry.

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

DIRECTIONS (Mapquest: Elk Lake):  From Century Drive in Bend, take the Cascade Lakes Scenic Highway approximately 34 miles to Elk Lake.  The start & finish site for all swims is the Beach Day Use Area, the southernmost exit and last Elk Lake exit if coming from Bend.

PARKING:  Parking is limited to two large pullouts off the Cascades Lakes Highway, the Six-Lakes Trailhead lot, and the Little Fawn Group Campground.  A shuttle will run Saturday & Sunday only between the campground, trailhead, 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 current NW Forest Pass to park anywhere other than the highway pullouts, trailhead, or campground.

CAMPING:  By pre-registration only (first come first served), we have reserved Little Fawn Group Campground for swimmers & spectators Thursday through Saturday.  Only tents or small motor homes are permitted.  Camping fee is $8 per day per camper 12 years or older—include fee with your entry form to secure your spot.  Limited parking at the campgrounds!  NO drop-in camping!

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

EVENT DIRECTOR:  Bob Bruce    coachbobbruce@gmail.com   541-317-4851

Note: If paying by credit card, your credit card statement will reflect a charge from "WWW.COMASWIM.ORG."