5th Annual Flathead Lake Swim Series 2018 - Big Arm Montana

This event is a charity event with 100% of the proceeds going to the Enduring Waves Foundation.  The Enduring Waves Foundation is a Montana 501(c)(3) nonprofit that assists Montana children with various medical expenses.

Big Arm State Park on the West Shore of Flathead Lake

ELIGIBILITY
While in years past this event has required USMS registration or a one-day USMS event fee, membership or affiliation with USMS is not required this year.  Given this change, the half mile, mile and 5K races are now open to athletes 12 and older (with some restrictions as listed below).  While information on team affiliation is requested during the registration process, neither team affiliation nor national affiliation with any governing body is required for this event.

RACE SCHEDULE
Racers returning from previous years: please note our schedule of events has changed based upon input from prior participants

All races will be run as a mass start, in water.  Although there will be wetsuit and non-wetsuit divisions for purposes of awards, both divisions will be run simultaneously for each of the four events.

Friday July 20th
           
            Registration Table/Check in opens at 2:30 pm
            Mandatory Volunteer Meeting 3:30 pm
           
            1 Mile
                        Mandatory Athlete Meeting 4:00 pm
                        1 mile race begins 4:30 pm

            ½ Mile
                        Mandatory Athlete Meeting 5:15 pm
                        ½ mile race begins 5:45 pm

             Awards/event BBQ will begin 10 minutes after the last swimmer finishes or 6:30 pm whichever comes first
                       

Saturday July 21st

            Registration Table/Check in opens at 6:00 am
            Mandatory Volunteer Meeting 6:30 am (Kayakers must be checked in prior to this meeting)
           
            10K
                        Mandatory Athlete Meeting 7:00 am
                        10K Race Begins 7:30 am

            Awards/post race lunch will begin 10 minutes after the last swimmer finishes or 1:00 pm whichever comes first

Sunday July 22nd

            Registration Table/Check in opens at 6:00 am
            Mandatory Volunteer Meeting 6:30 am (Kayakers must be checked in prior to this meeting)

            5K
                        Mandatory Athlete Meeting 7:00 am
                        5K Race Begins 7:30 am

            Awards/post race lunch will begin 10 minutes after the last racer finishes or 11:00 am whichever comes first


AGE RESTRICTIONS
Swimmers ages 12 and older may participate in the ½ mile, 1 mile, and 5K races.  Swimmers under the age of 18 entering in the 5K race will be required to submit either proof of completion of a prior 5K race or written certification from the athlete's coach that he/she has completed the necessary training to be able to swim a 5K distance.

The 10K races will be restricted to athletes who are at least 18 years old.

ENTRY FEES AND DEADLINES
Base entry fee to participate is $40 and includes entry into one race, a race visor, participant SWAG bag with goodies from our sponsors, and post race food.  Addition of a second race is $15.  Addition of two races is $30.  Addition of three races is $35.   These entry fees are effective from the open of registration on February 1, 2018 until July 6th at midnight.  Entries submitted after July 6th at midnight will be assessed a $50 late registration fee and entries submitted after July 13th at midnight will be assessed a $100 late registration fee.

Online event entries are paid by credit card to “ClubAssistance.com Events”
Online entries will close at midnight on July 20, 2018.
There will be NO REFUNDS.

RESULTS
Results will be posted as they are finalized at the event and online.

FEED STATIONS
There will be floating feed stations on the swim course for only the 5K and 10K races.  Athletes will be responsible for providing their own well-labeled feed for the feed station.  Feed station will be located just inside turn buoy #2.  Each athlete’s feed will be placed in a numbered slot on the floating feeding station.  Athletes are responsible to ensure that no garbage escapes from their feed supplies into the lake.

ATHLETE ACCOMODATIONS
Athletes with disabilities are welcomed at the Flathead Lake Swim Series.  Athletes requiring special accommodations must contact the event director by July 6, 2018 to ensure that proper accommodations can be made. 

KAYAK SUPPORT
Our event has grown to the point that Kayak support will be required for every swimmer in the 5K and 10K races.  Kayakers MUST be able to swim,  MUST be comfortable kayaking in potential rough water conditions and MUST be over the age of 16.   

Swimmers who arrive on race day without 1) their own provided kayaker or 2) having made arrangements for race staff to provide a kayaker will not be permitted to swim.  No refunds will be provided on the basis of athletes failing to comply with the kayak requirement.   Swimmers who supply their own kayak (and pilot for the kayak) will be given a $10 cash refund at event. 

Swimmers will not be permitted to draft off their kayak or take feed in any form from their kayaker during the race. Hanging on to kayak, drafting off kayak or receiving assistance from kayak for first occurrence will result in a 30 second time penalty and for second occurrence will result in disqualification.

AWARDS
Athletes will compete together, but will be ranked for awards in the following age groupings and by gender and division (wetsuit/nonwetsuit):

12-18
19-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100

Awards will be given to the top racer in each age group/gender/division (wetsuit or non-wetsuit).  The male and female non wetsuit athletes with the top cumulative times in all four races combined will be crowned the Flathead Lake Monster.

LAKE CONDITIONS
Athletes should be prepared for the possibility of rapidly changing conditions.   Our 2014 event saw a 15 degree drop in water temperatures form day 1 to day 3 of the series.  Athletes will be asking to declare their division (wetsuit or non-wetsuit) one week prior to the event, however, changing divisions will be permitted prior to the pre-race meeting if conditions require.   Athletes should be aware that Flathead Lake is known for occasionally rough conditions and athletes should be prepared for the possibility of rough water, which may cause decreased visibility.  Athletes will not be charged any extra should race conditions on race day be extra challenging.

LODGING
Big Arm State Park has seven tent sites and 41 RV/trailer sites for camping Reservations can be made at
http://montanastateparks.reserveamerica.com.
The closest hotels to the race are located in Polson, approximately 15 minutes from the race site. Additional lodging is available in Somers (30 min. from race site) and Kalispell (45 min. from race site).

RULES
Athletes must wear the numbered race cap provided in each athletes SWAG bag.  Provided race caps are latex and any athletes who have allergies to latex must inform race staff prior to July 6, 2018 so that a silicone cap will be available for the athlete.  All athletes will be provided a race number temporary tattoo either on their hand (if wearing sleeved wetsuit) or on the upper shoulder.

Athletes must attend the pre-race athlete meeting on each day or they will be ineligible to compete in that days race(s).

Athletes are expected to conduct themselves with good sportsmanship and be respectful to other swimmers, officials race volunteers and support staff.  Race staff for the FLSS hopes to ensure a safe and FUN event for all participants.

Athletes must complete the entire course completing the complete triangle loop around all buoys.  Athletes may not draft off any support vessel.  Athletes may not take feed or support from kayakers.  In an emergency situation support from boats/kayakers is permitted, but coming into contact intentionally with a boat/kayak will disqualify the swimmer from awards/placing.

Excessive drafting off other swimmers will not be permitted.  Excessive drafting is defined as swimming within 3 feet of another swimmer for more than 30 seconds (except within 200 yards of the start/finish or any turn buoy).  Officials will impose a 30 second time penalty for a first offense on any swimmer who is observed to be drafting off another swimmer excessively.  For a second offense the athlete will be disqualified and ineligible for awards.

Swimmers who arrive on race day without 1) their own provided kayaker or 2) having made arrangements for race staff to provide a kayaker will not be permitted to swim.  No refunds will be provided on the basis of athletes failing to comply with the kayak requirement.