Minnetonka Challenge 5 & 10 Mile Lake Races - 33rd Annual

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Registration Schedule

This competition is limited to the first 100 entrants.
Currently there are 48 entrants.

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33rd Annual Minnetonka Challenge
5 Mile Open Water Race
10 Mile Open Water Race
5 & 10 Mile Relays

DATE: Saturday, August 10th, 2019

• 5-Mile START: Excelsior Beach, Lake Minnetonka
• 10-Mile START/ 5-Mile FINISH: Wayzata Beach, Lake Minnetonka

TIME:
10-MILE SCHEDULE

5:15AM                     10 mile check in at Wayzata Beach.  Caps, body marking, etc.
*safety meetings 10 min before each wave
5:30AM                     First Wave Start (5 - 6.5  hr seed times)
5:45AM                     Second Wave Start (4.5 - 5 hr seed times)
6:00AM                     Third Wave Start (under 4.5  hr seed times)
8:45AM                     10 mi must make turn buoy in Excelsior (past half way mark)
10:45AM                    Awards at Wayzata Beach

5-MILE SCHEDULE

6:30AM-7:00AM       All swimmers check-in at Excelsior Beach.  Caps, body marking, etc.
7:10AM                      Mandatory pre-race meeting & instructions
7:20AM                      First Wave Start (3 hr + seed times)
7:30AM                      Second Wave Start (2 hr 30 min - 3 hr seed times)
7:40AM                      Third Wave Start (2 hr 15 min - 2 hr 30 min seed times)
7:50AM                      Fourth Wave Start (under 2 hr 15 min seed times)
9:45AM                     5 mi must pass half way mark
10:45AM                    Awards at Wayzata Beach

*Escort boats dispatched from west Excelsior beach 5 min prior to start time.

SWIMMER ELIGIBILITY: Must be USMS Registered (www.usms.org/reg) or Pay $25.00 One Event fee plus registration fees. One-Event NOT available for Relays. Sanctioned by Minnesota LMSC for USMS Inc." (Article 203.3.3)

SAFETY: Positive check in will be required for swimmers prior to the start of the race. Failure to abide by this will result in disqualification. Swim caps will be provided and MUST be worn.

ENTRIES:  Minnetonka Challenge 5 & 10 Mile (individual or 2 or 3 person relay) 
     - May 1 - May 24:  $40 one swim, $60 relay
     - May 25 - May 31:  $45 one swim, $75 relay
     - June 1 - Aug 3:  $50 one swim, $80 relay
     - Aug 4 - Aug 9:  $55 one swim, $95 relay
     - Aug 10 (race day):  $65 one swim, $125 relay 

Online Registration Deadline is midnight, Thursday August 8, 2019.
Event is Limited to first 100 swimmers registered.
Race day registration ($65/$125 & USMS Card at beach, NO ONE Event Registrations on Race Day)
Entry Fees are non-refundable. If the race is cancelled due to inclement weather or other uncontrollable circumstances, there will be no refunds (sorry). Online entry fees will be charged to your credit card by “ClubAssistant.com Events”. Visa, Mastercard, and Discover only.

Course: Straight line Course Between Wayzata Beach and Excelsior Beach. Buoys will mark the course every mile or at mile 2,3,4,&5. 5-Mile race will start at Excelsior Beach and swim to Wayzata Beach. 10-Mile race will start at Wayzata Beach, turn-around at Excelsior Beach, Finish at Wayzata Beach.

LAKE CONDITIONS: Temp about 78F (possible weeds, fish, wind, & fishing boats.)

Hosted by Hopkins Masters/ Genesis Aquatics (contacts below):

Event Rules

Relay Rules: All swimmers must be USMS registered.  All swimmers in the relay must complete the registration information.  The relay age group is based on the total (combined) age of the three swimmers.

General Rules:

Positive check in Required. PFD’s worn by all paddlers/escorts, and any in safety/course boatsEvent provided swim caps for visibility.No paddles, Fins, wetsuits for award recipients. .Must be at least half way by 10:00am. Escort must have room for swimmer(s) on support craft. The relay age group is based on the age of the youngest swimmer.

USMS Open Water Rules:

General Information:

Events:
5-mile & 10-mile Individual
5-mile relay(2-mile, 2-mile, 1-mile) & 10-mile relay (5-mile & 5-mile)

Relays: 2 & 3 person relays can compete as a team.  Swimmers will exchange places at Big Island and Spirit Island for the 5-mile, Swimmers will exchange at Excelsior Beach for the 10-mile.

5-mile Distances: Excelsior to Big Island: 2 miles, Big Island to Spirit Island: 2 miles, Spirit Island to Wayzata Beach: 1 mile

Race Time Limit: 5-mile: Swimmers must be at the half-way point by 9:45am, 10-mile: 8:30am

Wetsuits and other swimming aids: Allowed, but swimmers will NOT be eligible for awards.

Safety:  Swimmers must check in on race day prior to 6:30 am. Swim caps will be provided and must be worn. Each swimmer must have an escort canoe and paddlers. Escorts must wear approved life jackets. Escort boats must have emergency flag (provided) and an extra life jacket for the swimmer. We encourage drinking water during your swim (preferably not the lake water).

Inclement weather:  If there is lightning/thunder, damaging winds, etc. in the area prior to the start the event will be delayed or cancelled. If there is inclement weather after the race has started, the race will be cancelled and swimmers/escorts should go to the nearest shore and wait for a safety boat to bring you to the finish in order to account for all participants. In either case, the entry fee will not be returned.

Escorts:  Escort boats must be registered/licensed, non-motorized and able to support paddlers and swimmer. Each escort boat will require a signed exotic species form required by the Lake Minnetonka Conservation District. Without this form you will not be allowed to swim. There will be NO canoes provided by the race committee. You must arrange your own support escort boat.

Start: 5-Mile: Excelsior Beach, 10-Mile: Wayzata Beach

Parking at Excelsior Beach – you can find off-street parking in the neighborhoods (please respect the laws and people’s community); you can also find meters (plan to bring a lot of quarters).Registration/Check in will be near the play ground area. If raining, this will be moved into the bath house. This is also where you can unload your canoes (best access to the water).The start will be on the north side of the beach, standing on the beach (out of the water). Escorts will wait outside of the swimming area and must begin escorting the swimmer within 50 meters of the end of the swimming area buoys.

Finish: Wayzata Beach

Parking at Wayzata Beach – parking lot (some spaces require Wayzata permit)Fruit, muffins, and drinks provided at the beachAwards ceremony on the beach

Awards: 10:00-10:30 am Awards ceremony!

T-Shirts: All participants.

Mugs: Top Finisher in each age group (Male/Female) 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-40, ...

Relays: Top Three Female Teams, Top Three Male Teams, Top Three Co-ed Teams

Other Awards: Oldest Finisher, Oldest combined age Relay Finish, Finisher who lives farthest from Lake Minnetonka, Most Decorated Escorts... could be some others, too!

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