The Big Wave Ocean Swim Race
The Big Wave Ocean Swim Race and the The Beast Open Water Championship Finals are ocean swim preliminary and finals races held on Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara, California presented by Mark Warkentin and the Santa Barbara Swim Club on 6 June 2015. Sanctioned by U.S. Masters Swimming.
Contents
Events
The Long Distance Preliminary event is a 1.2 km including a rectangle shaped course with an added swim out/in from shore comprised of approximately 100m. The Short Course Open Water event is 600m including a 500m triangle shaped course with an added swim out/in from shore comprised of approximately 100m. Both courses will start on the beach and be swum in a clockwise direction with an initial right hand turn buoy followed by left hand turn buoys.
The Long Distance Preliminary event will include 2 or 3 heats of preliminary heats. The top 10 men and top 10 women in each heat will advance to “The BEAST” Championship finals. This event is open to athletes of all ages.
The Short Course will include 1 or 2 heats and is open to athletes of all ages but awards will be given to 12 and under participants only.
The Beast Championship Finals will be on the 600m course.
Water Temperature
The average water temperature for this time of year is 65°F and has been between 60°F and 68°F historically.
Start and Finish
The event will start on the beach approximately 10 feet from the water’s edge. The finish will be on the beach marked with flags.
Timeline
3:00PM: CHECK-IN opens at Los Banos del Mar pool. Check-in will not be available at Leadbetter Beach. All athletes must check-in at Los Banos on race day in order to compete. 4:00PM: Mandatory technical meeting at Los Banos del Mar Pool. 4:55PM: Mandatory safety meeting for 1,200m race participants at the start line of race 5:00PM: 1st heat of 1,200m preliminary race begins. 5:10PM: 2nd heat of 1,200m preliminary race begins. 5:20PM: 3rd heat of 1,200m preliminary race begins. (if necessary) 5:55PM: Mandatory safety meeting for 600m race participants at the start line of race 6:00PM: 600m timed finals race begins 6:20PM: Awards presentation for Short Course Race 6:25PM: Mandatory safety meeting for “The BEAST” competitors at start line of race 6:30PM: Start of Men’s Championship finals 6:35PM: Start of Women’s Championship finals 7:00PM: Awards presentation for the BEAST Championship Finals.
Awards
Awards will be presented to a total of 6 champions:
The top overall female and top overall male athletes in “The BEAST” championship finals will be presented with distinctive awards. Additionally, the top placing male/female in the 12 and under age division to finish the “BEAST championship finals will also be presented with distinctive awards. If there are no 12 and under athletes qualified for “The BEAST” championship finals the awards will be issued based upon the timed results of the preliminary heat.
Rules
USA Swimming Open Water Rules will govern.
Severe Weather Plan
Santa Barbara experiences limited weather related circumstances in the summer months. However, the race will be cancelled if severe weather or other unforeseen health/safety circumstances are present on race day. All safety measures related to weather, water quality or other will be determined by the head safety monitor on the day of the race.
Site Evacuation Plan
Race participants will exit the water at the nearest point to the beach (course is no more than 100 meters from beach) in the event of a water evacuation. Beach evacuation will be directly into the Leadbetter Beach parking lot and Shoreline Drive.
Wetsuits
Wetsuits are allowed in the preliminary heats but those athletes will not advance to finals.
Contact
Mark Warkentin at markdwarkentin@gmail.com
