30th Annual Minnetonka Challenge 5-Mile Lake Swim

---

Registration Schedule

This competition is limited to the first 70 entrants.
Currently there are 52 entrants.

---

---

****IMPORTANT/URGENT RE: Minnetonka 5-Mile Challenge

Hello 5-Mile participants (swimmers & escorts):

Today I was informed that Excelsior Beach has been closed until Monday (see note at the bottom of this email).  There is a small chance that Wayzata may close... We plan to continue with the event on Saturday, however the start (and possibly finish) will be outside the designated swimming area.  Participation in this event is at your discretion.  There will be no refunds for this event since all permits, etc. have been finalized.
Reminders/Rules:

All swimmers must be USMS registered (One-Event registrations are acceptable)All swimmers must have an escort in one canoe, kayak, or other non-motorized craft.
All swimmers are responsible to know the course (straight across the lake from Excelsior to Wayzata... buoys are placed for support, but you are NOT required to swim near them)All swimmers shall wear only one swimsuit in one or two pieces. Allswimsuits shall be made from textile materials. For both men andwomen, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck and shall not extend pastthe shoulder nor below the ankles.This event uses a beach start and beach finish.

Estimated schedule:

6:30am-7:30am  Check In / Registration7:30am-7:35am  Safety Meeting (all swimmers and paddlers)
7:40am-8:10am  Race starts (in waves/heats)10:45am  Awards

Other info

Off-street parking and meters are available at the start and finish.All swimmers and paddlers/escorts must be present during the safety meeting (immediately following check in/registration)
Most people will transport belongings in the escort craft; however, you may also put a bag in my car/trailer for pick up in Wayzata.
There is no official "shuttle" to transport swimmers back to the start -- however, there are usually some "open seats" with other swimmers and everyone has eventually made it back to Excelsior.

If you have any questions... please let me know.

Looking forward to a safe and fun swim!

Scott

FROM: Hennepin County Environmental Health

On August 10, 2016 Hennepin County collected water samples from the beach at Excelsior Commons Beach.  The test results for these samples (left/center/right, respectively) indicate that they were >2419.6, 2419.6, and 1046.2 Escherichia coli/100mL, which exceeds the Environmental Protection Agency’s recommended water quality standards for a single sample.

Escherichia coli colonies from the last five samples shall not exceed a geometric mean of 126/100mL, nor shall any one sample exceed 235 colonies/100mL.

 According to these standards, your beach water may pose a health threat to individuals coming into contact with the water.  We recommend that you close the beach due to high levels of bacterial contamination.  Hennepin County will be sampling the beach on Monday and will provide the test results as soon as possible.  The beach should remain closed until water sample results indicate that the indicator organisms are within acceptable limits.

30th Annual Minnetonka Challenge

5-Mile Open Water Lake Swim

DATE: Saturday, August 13th 2016

START: Excelsior Beach, Excelsior, MN on Lake Minnetonka

FINISH: Wayzata Beach, Wayzata, MN on Lake Minnetonka

TIME:

7:00AM–7:30AM  • All Swimmers check-in at Excelsior Beach, caps, body marking/numbered, warm-up, etc.

7:45AM                  • Mandatory pre-race Meeting & Instructions

8:00AM                  • First wave of 5-Mile (3 hr+ seed times)

8:10AM                  • Second wave of 5-Mile (2.5 - 3 hr seed times)

8:20AM                  • Third wave of 5-Mile (2.25 - 2.5 hr seed times)

8:30AM                  • Fourth/Final wave of 5-Mile (< 2.25 hr seed times )

*Escort boats dispatched from west Excelsior beach 5 min prior to start time.

ENTRIES:  
     - Apr 1 - Apr 15:  $35 ind, $80 rel
     - Apr 16 - Apr 30:  $40 ind, $90 rel
     - May 1 - May 31:  $45 ind, $100 rel
     - June 1 - Jun 30:  $50 ind, $110 rel
     - July 1 - July 31:  $55 ind, $120 rel
     - Aug 1 - Aug 12: $60 ind, $130 rel
     - Aug 13 (race day):  $70 ind, $150 rel -- USMS Card and ID req'd
Online Registration Closes midnight Aug 3rd for a T-Shirt
***Registration fees will be added during checkout
Entry Fees are non-refundable. If the race is cancelled due to inclement weather or other uncontrollable circumstances, there will be no refunds (sorry). Online entry fees will be charged to your credit card by “ClubAssistant.com Events”.

MEMBERSHIP: Must be a 2016 Member of U.S. Masters Swimming(USMS) or pay an extra $20.00 for a One Event Membership to USMS. Link to Annual Registration.

AWARDS: Open to those without swimming aids. Overall top 3 men, top 3 women, top 3 relays (men, women, and mixed), plus the top finisher in each age group.

PARKING: Excelsior & Wayzata – public parking and meters

LAKE CONDITIONS: Temp about 76F (possible weeds, fish, wind, & fishing boats.)

Hosted by Hopkins Masters/ Genesis Aquatics (contacts below):

Event Rules

Relay Rules: All swimmers must be USMS registered.  All swimmers in the relay must complete the registration information.  The relay age group is based on the total (combined) age of the three swimmers.

General Rules:

Positive check in,Signed waiver.PFD’s worn by all paddlers/escorts, and any in safety/course boatsEvent provided swim caps for visibilityNo paddles, Fins, wetsuits, or motors! for award recipients. Please contact the race director if you have questions about swimwear. Must be at least half way(2.5miles) by 10:00am.  The relay age group is based on the age of the youngest swimmer.

USMS Open Water Rules:

• 303.3 Escorted Swims
• 303.3.1 In any event for which it has been arranged that an escort craft will accompany each swimmer throughout the event, all swimmers shall be accompanied by such an escort craft. If the escort becomes disabled or cannot continue to accompany the swimmer, the swimmer may stay in the water near the disabled escort craft until a replacement arrives, join another escort craft that is accompanying only one other swimmer until another escort craft arrives or exit the water.
• 303.3.2 Swimmers may receive the following assistance from any escort craft:
  1. A Food or drink may be passed from escort craft to swimmer as long as deliberate contact is not made between the two.
  2. B The escort craft may also assist the swimmer with navigation, including verbal and written communication.
• 303.3.3 Swimmers shall not receive the following assistance from any escort craft:
  1. A Swimmers shall not receive flotation or propulsion from any escort craft nor make intentional contact with any craft.
  2. B Drafting directly behind the escort craft shall not be permitted when other open water is readily available.
  3. C Escort craft shall not obstruct other swimmers in the race.
• 303.3.4 If a swimmer’s escort craft becomes disabled as per article 303.3.1, an escort craft for another swimmer may assume responsibility for the swimmer with the disabled escort craft, subject to the following conditions:
  1. A Any one escort craft may escort no more than two swimmers.
  2. B The two swimmers must stay within 3 meters of each other. Failure to stay within 3 meters shall result in immediate disqualification of the second swimmer assigned to the escort craft and the immediate exit of that person from the water

General Information:

Events:
5-mile Individual
5-mile Relay (2-mile, 2-mile, 1-mile) three swimmers

Relays: 2 & 3 person relays can compete as a team.  Swimmers will exchange places at Big Island and Spirit Island. Approximate distances are:

Excelsior to Big Island: 2 miles Big Island to Spirit Island: 2 miles Spirit Island to Wayzata Beach: 1 mile

Race Time Limit: Swimmers must be at the half-way point by 10:00am.

Wetsuits and other swimming aids: Allowed, but swimmers will NOT be eligible for awards.

Safety:  Swimmers must check in on race day prior to 6:30 am. Swim caps will be provided and must be worn. Each swimmer must have an escort canoe and paddlers. Escorts must wear approved life jackets. Escort boats must have emergency flag (provided) and an extra life jacket for the swimmer. We encourage drinking water during your swim (preferably not the lake water).

Inclement weather:  If there is lightning/thunder, damaging winds, etc. in the area prior to the start the event will be delayed or cancelled. If there is inclement weather after the race has started, the race will be cancelled and swimmers/escorts should go to the nearest shore and wait for a safety boat to bring you to the finish in order to account for all participants. In either case, the entry fee will not be returned.

Escorts:  Escort boats must be registered/licensed, non-motorized and able to support paddlers and swimmer. There will be NO canoes provided by the race committee. You must arrange your own support escort boat.

Start: Excelsior Beach

Parking at Excelsior Beach – you can find off-street parking in the neighborhoods (please respect the laws and people’s community); you can also find meters (plan to bring a lot of quarters).Registration/Check in will be near the play ground area. If raining, this will be moved into the bath house. This is also where you can unload your canoes (best access to the water).The start will be on the north side of the beach, standing on the beach (out of the water). Escorts will wait outside of the swimming area and must begin escorting the swimmer within 50 meters of the end of the swimming area buoys.

Finish: Wayzata Beach

Parking at Wayzata Beach – parking lot (some spaces require Wayzata permit)Fruit, muffins, and drinks provided at the beach, Awards ceremony on the beach

Awards: 10:00-10:30 am Awards ceremony!

T-Shirts: All participants.

Mugs: Top Finisher in each age group (Male/Female) 18-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-40, ...

Relays: Top Three Female Teams, Top Three Male Teams, Top Three Co-ed Teams

Other Possible Awards: Oldest Finisher, Oldest combined age Relay Finish, Finisher who lives farthest from Lake Minnetonka, Most Decorated Escorts... could be some others, too!

Note: If paying by credit card, your credit card statement will reflect a charge from "ClubAssistant.com Events."