LOCATION: Donner Lake, Truckee, CA. Located 35 miles west of Reno, NV and 100 miles east of Sacramento, CA. via Interstate 80. The start is at the east end of the lake by Donner Memorial State Park; the finish is at West End Beach.
WARNING: Participants should be adequately trained for this competition, which combines high altitude, cool water temperatures, and a lengthy swim. Previous experience in similar conditions is highly recommended. |
|
COURSE: Straight, point-to-point, 2.7 miles. Expect water temperature 65 – 68 degrees. Altitude is 5933 ft.
SWIM PROCEDURES: Pre-race instructions at 8:15 AM followed by a beach start. Non-motorized individual escorts are permitted. Life jackets and “man in water” flags are required on all craft. A 2 hour 30 minute time limit will be STRICTLY enforced. If you fail to finish the race within the time limit, you will be disqualified and removed from the water unless you have your own escort. If you think you cannot complete the swim in 2 hours 30 minutes, you must provide a personal escort to accompany you during the swim. |
ENTRIES: This event is open to 375 swimmers. This event sold out last year and we expect it to sell out again this year. Non-refundable entry fees are $40 per person if you pre-register; $75 per person, for registration on race day. Registration opens June 1st. Registration for this event will only be available at www.active.com, No mail in entries will be accepted. Online registration closes Sunday, August 1st. You must bring your 2010 USMS card or a copy of your card on race day so your membership can be verified. If the Donner Lake Open Water Swim sells out before race day, registration will close early and there will be NO race-day registration.
SHIRTS:
The cost for long sleeve T-shirts (click to view the design pdf) $25 and $30 for XXL. Sweatshirts (click to view the design pdf) cost is $40 and $45 for XXL. You can order during the registration process for the Donner Lake Open Water Swim through www.active.com. If you are not registering for the event, but would still like to order a shirt or sweatshirt please contact Laura Hanson at laurahanson888@hotmail.com. Orders must be placed by July 20th.
TIMING: Timing for this event will be provided by Lynn Mentzer and Dave Nolte.
PARKING: This is a point-to-point swim with parking available in designated parking areas at the start and at the finish. At the start of the race, you may park at the Donner Museum parking lot for a fee or on the south side of Donner Pass Road (absolutely NO parking on the north side of Donner Pass Road). At the finish, you may park at the West End Beach parking lot. A shuttle will operate between the start and finish from 6:30 AM to noon. Spectators must pay the West End Beach admission fee. Animals are not allowed in the park.
PICNIC LUNCH: SNM will provide post race recovery refreshments and lunch catered by Men Wielding Fire for all participants. Delicious BBQ chicken and salad will be served.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Accommodations in the area are limited, so make your reservations early! Campers should call 800-444-PARK for reservations for Donner Memorial State Park (located at the start of the race). |
|
CHECK-IN: Check-in and race day registration will begin at 6:30 AM and close at 8:00 AM. Remember to either bring a photocopy of your 2010 USMS registration or the actual card for verification of membership. Should you forget to bring your current USMS registration, you will be charged a lookup fee of $3. Pre-race instructions will take place at 8:15 AM.
EQUIPMENT: The use of wetsuits shall render a swimmer ineligible for awards. Technical suits (Speedo Lazers, Blue 70’s) are legal through the 2010 open water season. The use of fins, pull buoys or other swimming devices shall not be permitted except that soft hand paddles may be used as a prosthesis, provided that, they do not present a safety hazard to the other swimmers.
DIVISIONS: Masters divisions 18-24,25-29, 30-34, etc.; male and female. No entrants under 18 years of age are permitted.
AWARDS: Special awards will be presented to the first woman and man to finish (18+ and 40+) and the top three finishers in each age group. All entrants will receive an official race cap, post-race refreshments and complete results (if requested).
SAFETY: Bright colored caps will be provided and must be worn during the swim. The course will be patrolled by safety craft and non-motorized individual escorts are permitted. Life jackets and "man in water" flags are required on all craft.
KAYAK:If you want to kayak for the race, contact Cory Avery at WayneAvery@SBCglobal.net.
2009 Overall Results »
2009 Overall Results .xls »
2009
Age Group Results »
2009 Age Group Results .xls »
2009 Wetsuit Results »
2008 RESULTS .xls » (Previous Years ) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Donner Lake Open Water Swim
Q: What do I do with my belongings since the swim starts at one end of the lake (east end) and ends in another (west end)?
A: After you register go directly to the body and bag marking area. You will be given a white bag with your race number on it. Place your belongings in the bag. There will be a designated area on the beach to place your bag. We will bring it to the finish for you. If you do not place your bag in the designated area, the bag will be thrown out. Sierra Nevada Masters is not responsible for lost or stolen items. It is highly recommended that you not place any valuables in the bags.
Q: Where do I park?
A: You can park at West End Beach parking lot located at the finish, at the start of the race (east end of the lake) on the south side of Donner Pass Road, or for a fee at the Donner Museum parking lot located near the start. Sugar Bowl Ski Area provides a shuttle that runs from 6:30 to noon between the start and finish areas. If you park at the finish (West End Beach), make sure to give yourself adequate time (from arrival at the West End Beach parking lot to registration may take up to 45 minutes) to register. Registration closes promptly at 8:00am.
Q: Are there T-shirts for sale?
A: Shirts and sweatshirts may be pre-ordered with registration before July 20th. Limited numbers will be available for purchase on race day.
Q: Who gets a free lunch?
A: All pre-registered swimmers receive a free lunch following the race.
Q: Can I swim unofficially?
A: No! There are several reasons for this. First, if you are not registered we have no way of knowing that you are in the water and thus cannot account for your safety. Second, if you swim unofficially, you are not insured by United States Masters Swimming for any difficulty you might have during the swim. There are 364 other days that you can swim in Donner Lake. Please do not choose August 7th to do it. Pick another day! It is very important to us that we run a safe and fun event for everyone. In order to do this, all swimmers must be registered for the event.
Q: Can I wear a wetsuit?
A: Yes, you can wear a wetsuit. Swimmers who wear wetsuits are welcome to participate. Wetsuit swimmers are not eligible for official times or awards.
Q: Do I need to show proof of current United States Masters Swimming (USMS) membership to participate in the Donner Lake Open Water Swim?
A: Yes. This event is sanctioned by USMS and requires that all participants provide proof of current registration, whether they pre-register or register on race day.
Check in and Race day registration –
- If you are currently registered with USMS, you must have your USMS card or a copy of you USMS card with you. Otherwise, a $3.00 look-up charge for verifying your USMS registration must be paid prior to registering for the event.
- If you are not currently registered with USMS, you must register prior to registering for the swim. The fee is $40.00 and your check is made payable to Pacific Masters Swimming. This will be a separate check from your registration for the swim.
|
