Here it is… the weekend events for the 2015 Change Your Latitude Open Water Challenge! We will send final confirmation to all registered swimmers on Monday. Looking forward to welcoming everyone to Sitka and jumping in for the BEST swim of your life!
We hope everyone has settled into their open water seasons well! More and more swimmers have been hitting the water here in Sitka with regular weekly swims happening and numbers growing.
We have heard that lodging here in Sitka is booking up fast for the busy weekend of the 2015 Change Your Latitude open water swim! Check out our TRAVEL PAGE for some of the many places to stay.
Remember with Sitka Seafood Festival, the Cross Trail Classic Marathon and the Highland Games happening the weekend of August 7-9 this are really happening here! You won’t find a more exciting, busy and entertaining weekend to be in Sitka!
2015 Change Your Latitude – 57* North Open Water Challenge Registration is Open!
What are you going to swim? 1k, 3k, 6k or the 10k? Anyone out there brave enough to swim the course “naked”?
Register at: bbsc.mycustomevent.com
2014 was the biggest crowd we have had yet to swim in Sitka Sound for Change Your Latitude. Will 2015 be even bigger? We sure hope so!
2015’s proceeds will be dedicated to the Baranof Barracudas Swim Club Scholarship program. Scholarships are given to swimmers in need of financial assistance to swim and compete in USA Swimming age group program. Race organizers and sponsors are excited about this dedication this year and if you are feeling a little extra generous please consider a donation to the program as well. All added donations to BBSC with your registration will go 100% to the Scholarship Program. We thank you from the bottoms of our hearts and the pool where we continue our decades long tradition of high quality, professional coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities.
Here’s to inspiring the next generation of open water swimmers!
Swimmer registrations will open Sunday, January 4th, for the 2015 Change Your Latitude – 57* North Open Water Challenge!
Race participants can register for the 10k, 6k, 3k or 1k solo swims. This year the 3k swim is open to 14 years and older swimmers and the 1k swim will be open to all ages again. 10k and 6k swimmers will need to be 18 years or older on race day.
Change Your Latitude – 57° North Open Water Challenge
2014 Results
Men’s 10K – Patrick Williams 2:26.53, Ryan Robertson 2:46.54, Scott Watts 2:49:00, Daryl Johnson 3:36:45
Women’s 10K – Hannah Williams 2:53:46, Cynthia Werhane 2:58:46, Trehpina Galloway 3:41:55
Men’s 6K– Chris Calvin 1:36:36, David Moore 1:56:40, Dean Orbison 1:59:44, Peter Weiland 2:07:26
Women’s 6K – Lauren Langford 1:52:53, Ruth Carter 2:04:55, Sondra Winters 2:12:51, Arianne Morrison 2:58:03
Men’s 3K– Kevin Solarte 50:30, Grant Turner 51:04, Kevin Knox 53:48, Reid Brewer 1:01:39, Robert Foley 1:03:32, Owen Wagenhals 1:05:44, Paul DeAngelis, 1:07:44, Brian Hulsey 1:23:33
Women’s 3K– McLane Ritzel 54:03, Allison Sartori 1:16:16, Patricia Shaler 1:39:05
Under 18 – Men’s 1K– Makai Saline 9:14, Jack Weaver 9:48, Kobi Weiland 11:05, Matthew Rice 18:35
Under 18 – Women’s 1K – Skylar Moore 8:13,
18 and over Men’s 1K – Jose Guzman 9:58
18 and over Women’s 1K – Megan Wiedel 11:07, Nancy Knapp 13:33, Lauren Wild 14:55, Kim Rice 18:35
The 2014 Change Your Latitude – 57° North Open Water Challenge celebrated its 5th year with a record 36 swimmers participating this past weekend. With swimmers ranging in age from 9 to 64 and hometowns of Portland, Seattle, Bellingham, Atlanta, Scottsdale, Larkspur, Sisters, Anchorage, Juneau, Delta Junction, San Francisco, Craig, and Sitka.
This year’s course featured four distances including 1k, 3k, 6k and 10k races with entries in every race distance there was plenty excitement for both swimmers and spectators alike. Patrick Williams of Sitka was the top finisher in the 10k distance with his sister Hannah Williams of Talladega, Alabama first in the women’s 10k. Hannah was originally only going to swim the 3k, it only being her 2nd time swimming in the open ocean, but sibling pressure got the best of her in the end and she made the change to the 10k at the last minute.
The 6k and 3k distances were new to the course this year. In the 6k race Kris Calvin topped the field with the men’s most senior participant, Dave Moore of Sitka in 2nd. Lauren Langford of Anchorage finished 1st in the women’s 6k.
The men’s 3k category was the race’s most populous entry with 8 swimmers rounding the course. Kevin Solarte of Seattle completed the course in 50 minutes 30 seconds with Grant Turner of Sitka chasing him less than a minute behind. The women’s race was won by Coloradan McLane Ritzel, an intern with the Sitka Local Foods Network. The 3k race also included the oldest woman participant, Patricia Shaler of Scottsdale who said she loved her time in Sitka Sound and is bringing friends back next year. There was one lone “naked” swimmer competing this year without a wetsuit. Paul DeAngelis of San Francisco completed the swim remarking that the temp here sometimes felt warmer than his home swims in the Bay Area.
The 1k race, one of the most exciting and inspirational, included several youth from the Baranof Barracuda Swim Club including Matthew Rice, the youngest swimmer at 9 years old, to ever swim the Change Your Latitude course. Skylar Moore shattered the course record for the 1k swim by over 4 minutes with a time of 8 minutes 13 seconds. Makai Saline placed 1st just 1 minute behind Skylar with Kobi Weiland in 2nd for the men’s 18 and under.
The 1k 18 and over group navigated the course with first time racer Megan Wiedel finishing in 11 minutes and Jose Guzman of Seattle finished in 9 minutes 58 seconds.
One of the most exciting and adventurous weekend swims you will ever do approaches! We can’t wait to welcome all of the 2014 Change Your Latitude participants to the waters of Sitka Sound! The following is the weekend schedule. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Again we look forward to having everyone out this year!
Location: US Coast Guard Gazebo, 617 Airport Rd.
4:30 PM – Pre-Race Registration
5:00 Welcome, Introduction and Sitka Sound Swim History
5:15 Swimmer Safety and Course Review
5:30 USCG Auxiliary Course Safety
5:35 Kayaker Responsibilities
5:35 Safety Boats and Start/Finish Crew
5:50 Tips/Techniques/Additional Questions and Wrap-up
6:00 PM –– Salmon bake and social
STAGERED STARTS:
10K- Swimmers
7:30 AM Starting line gathering – Final Course review and updates
8:00 AM 10K START
3/6K- Swimmers
8:15 AM Starting line gathering
8:45 AM 3/6K START
1K- Swimmers
10:15 AM Starting line gathering registration and final check-in.
11:00 AM 1K START
Awards and celebration! – Anticipated to be at approximately 11:30 AM when the last 10k swimmer crosses the finish line. Please stay for our group photo to be published on many of our sponsor websites and Facebook pages!
Swimmers: suits, caps (race cap required), goggles, towels and warm clothes for after. Helpful to have slip on sandals or Crocs for start/finish to walk into the water. For those swimming the 10/6/3K swims be sure to have plenty of hydration beverages and foods (goo, gels, bars).
Kayakers: warm clothing and of course dress for the possibility of rain or shine. Raingear, hats and sunglasses highly recommended regardless of current weather. Hydration and fuel supplies for both kayaker and swimmer. If you can, please bring a cell phone and a waterproof case or a VHF radio.
A MASSIVE thank you to XTERRA Wetsuits! Once again Change Your Latitude’s Official Wetsuit Sponsor and this year they have topped it off with a great prize package! 2 VENDETTA full suits will be given away at the Aug 3rd 2014 swim!
All race participants are also eligible for an awesome discount on XTERRA wetsuits, booties, gear bags and more!
Thank you XTERRA Wetsuits!
