Swim Information
What: Two swim distances are available: a 2.5KM and 5KM.
Where: Both distances start at Willow Beach in Gellatly Bay in West Kelowna. Here is a map.
When: Both swims are on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023. The 5KM starts at 7:00AM and the 2.5KM starts at 7:30AM.
Package Pick Up: Event package pickup is in the morning before the swim Saturday, September 2nd, from 6-6:45AM at the Start Line at Willow Beach in West Kelowna.
Timing Chip Pick Up: You will pick up your timing chip the morning of the swim when you pick up your package. Your timing chip must be placed on your ankle outside of your wetsuit.
Parking/Shuttle: There is very limited parking at Gellatly Bay. Therefore, included in your registration is a free shuttle to and from the parking lot near the Tim Horton's in the Westbank Shopping Centre (between Gosset Rd & Bering Rd) to Willow Beach. The shuttle starts leaving at 6am and will do several round trips. After your swim it will bring you back to the parking lot. Here's a map. Note: The original location was City Furniture but due to construction the location has changed.
Gear Dropoff: The gear tent is at Willow Beach. Just put your stuff in a bag and drop it off. We'll tag and watch over it until you finish your swim!
Get to the Start: The shuttle leaves from the parking lot starting at 6am and takes you right to the Start/Finish line at Willow Beach. After the swim, the shuttle will return you to the parking lot.
Support Craft: If you have a support craft with you, please have them sign the waiver and you (or they) can bring it to package pickup or the morning of the swim. Download the waiver here.
Swim Course
Both swims start and finish at Willow Beach in Gellatly Bay, near the West Kelowna Yacht Club.
The 2.5KM
Starts at Willow Beach straight across to the CN Wharf, follows the shoreline to the WFN dock, then across the bay back to Willow Beach. Look for the large inflated yellow buoys which mark each point. The buoys should always be on your right side. Please note Swim Buddy inflatable personal floats are not mandatory but recommended.
The 5KM
The 5km is the 2.5km route x 2. Starts at Willow Beach straight across to the CN Wharf, follows the shoreline to the WFN dock, then across the bay back to Willow Beach. Look for the large inflated yellow buoys which mark each point. The buoys should always be on your right side. Please note Swim Buddy inflatable personal floats are not mandatory but recommended.
The swim layouts are subject to change.
Swim Clinic
A Fresh Air Open Water Swim Clinic will be the Saturday, August 27th at 7am at Willow Beach in Gellatly Bay. Please arrive before 6:45am to allow enough time to get signed in.
To speed up the sign in, you can print the waiver, fill it in and bring it with you.
The Fresh Air Open Water Swim Clinic is led by qualified coaches, introducing or reinforcing special skills and tactics for swimming in the lake.
The swim clinic is for all abilities and we encourage all anxious, first time swimmers, or those who would like more time in the open water, to come out to the clinics. These are not advanced clinics as they are meant to help you get comfortable and increase your time in the open water. We will touch on sighting, drafting and other essential open water skills, but if you are an experienced swimmer, you may find the clinics to be a little basic.
Note: You must be registered for the Interior Savings Across the Lake Swim Kelowna, Gellatly Bay or Rattlesnake Island in order to attend the swim clinics for free.