While no open water swim on Earth has the amount and value of prizes as the Flowers Sea Swim, the prizes that are awarded in open water swims around the world are getting more and more creative and valuable.
The Kingdom Swim on July 24th in Vermont’s Lake Memphremagog, with races ranging from 100 yards to 10 miles, offers an interesting slew of prizes.
Hand-carved commemorative walking sticks are award to the overall male and female winners of the 10-mile swim while the “Last One Back to the Barn” is awarded to the swimmer with extraordinary perseverance. As Phil White of the Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association explains, “You don’t have to be last to win this award, just a stubborn cuss.”
The George Hunihan, For the Love of the Swim is awarded to the swimmer who best exemplifies the spirit of IROC’s summer athletic events: Just for the Fun of It.
The Kingdom Swim provides High Pledge awards. The swimmer who donates the largest amount of cash gets first choice of the following prizes; the swimmer who donates the second highest amount get second choice and so on.
• An Alcatraz Swim guided by Swim Art.
• Ned Denison’s 9-day 2011 Cork Ireland Long Distance Swim Camp, the perfect training camp for English Channel swimmers.
• Jay Peak Ski Resort‘s 2010-2011 Season Ski Pass.
• An Orca wetsuit
• One year family memberships at IROC
• 2-night stay at the Jay Peak Condo Resort
• 4-pack of downhill ski tickets at Jay Peak Condo Resort
• 2 Boston Red Sox tickets
Photo shows start of the Kingdom Swim 10-mile swim.
Copyright © 2010 by Steven Munatones