forums.MyMSC.ca

Molassesinjanuary · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Calgary

Since I have this vague idea in the back of my mind that I might like to organize a lake race in some future year, I'm wondering what would entice someone to travel out to the back of beyond to swim such an event. Longer than normal race distances? Big prizes? An unusual location? Fundraising for a very good cause? The lake I have in mind is about a 4 hour drive north of Edmonton.

Mark Bonneville · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 3

Make it a 10K !! I could combine it with a visit to my cousin in Vegrevillle !! How cold IS that water ??

Molassesinjanuary · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Calgary

I guess I'll soon find out, I'll be going up there (Lesser Slave Lake) in July some time.
I've swum in Waskesui in Saskatchewan, at about the same latitude, and it was warm enough for an ordinary poly suit and one silicone cap. There are really hours of daylight in late June and early July, so plenty of time for the water to soak up solar heat. I think the sun rises at about 5:00 a.m. and sets about 11:00 p.m. at solstice.
This is still a vague idea. I may offer to help the organizer of Alberta's one and only open water race this year to get an idea of what is involved.

Mark Bonneville · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 3

Good luck, and keep me posted. You should check with MSC, though...I'm not sure if they will sanction a race that requires a wetsuit of any kind....

Molassesinjanuary · Joined: 10 Jan 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Calgary

Well, I finally got up there and got two swims in this week. I was told by a local that it gets up to 74º F on the warmest days of July and August and that it was 63º F, more or less, on the days I was there. (Apparently the metric system hasn't reached them yet.) With two swim caps, it was no problem.
It's a shallow lake, so for all it's size (100 km long) it doesn't get extremely cold in summer, although it can get quite choppy on windy days.
Some people might use a wetsuit, but then I've seen people using them in the Sasamat Lake Canada Day race when the weather was very warm. There could always be a separate category for them. What's the cut-off, 15º C? According to the thermometer outside my door, 63º F is about 17º C.