Swimmers, Pilots, and Volunteers: Click the Orange Banner below to register at ITS YOUR RACE.

Swimmer registration for 2024 opens on Monday April 8th, 2024 at Noon EST. In the past, we have had race slots sell out within the first 24 hours. The race date is 10/05/24. 

Pilot registration opens one week later on Monday April 15th, 2024.

What you need to know to be prepared for the 2024 Swim the Suck Registration Process:

 1)Are you a USMS member or do you want to purchase a USMS day pass?

Swim the Suck is a USMS sanctioned event.  Have your U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) registration ID at hand, which can be found at https://www.usms.org/reg/members/ or through your My USMS account https://community.usms.org/p/myusms. 

You can obtain or renew a 2024 USMS membership for $70.00 at usms.org/join.  The benefits of a USMS membership can be found here.

You can also elect to purchase a one-event fee (aka day pass) for $20 during the registration process and nothing is required in advance. 


 2)Kayaks – Be prepared to answer whether you will be bringing your own vessel or if you want to rent a kayak.

If you indicate you need to rent a kayak in the registration process, the Race Director will take care of all the logistics. You just show up and you kayak, paddle, and PFD will be there. There is an $80 fee (plus processing charge) and you will be charged during the registration.

3)Who is your pilot? A) Bringing your own or B) Need to be paired?

A) Providing Own Pilot. If you will be bringing a friend or family member to pilot for you, please have the following information on hand:  

·      Your Pilot’s First and Last Name.

·      If you plan on bringing a friend or family member to serve as you pilot, but do not know for sure who that person will be you yet, please enter TBD

·      Your Pilot’s Email Address, If you do not know it yet put TBD

·      Note: Swimmers, if you are bringing your own pilot, this person MUST ALSO REGISTER SEPARATELY as a pilot even though we have asked you to enter some of their information on YOUR registration. Pilot registration opens one week after swimmer registration. Why do the pilots also have to register? We need pilots to sign the USMS waiver and to collect other personal information such as their emergency contact number, medical info, t-shirt size, etc. Also, we crosscheck the swimmer and pilot’s data to make sure that everyone who needs a kayak has one ready for them on race day. Pilot Registration is free.

B) Pilot Pairing If you need to be paired with a local volunteer pilot, you will be charged a $100.00 fee (plus processing) which includes both the pilot and boat/kayak. This fee goes to our volunteer coordinator, not the pilot themselves. You will be paired with your pilot is mid-September – first week of October and introduced via email. Then you will be asked to meet each other at the Friday night pasta dinner.  

4)There will be one silly question during registration, just answer it :)

5)Athletic achievements. It is suggested you already have your top 4 or so “athletic achievements” typed up so that you can easily copy and paste them into the field. Please do not use any commas in your answer because we use comma delineated files. Funny and serious achievements welcome.

6)Medical info you feel you need to share with the race directors.

7)Emergency Contact Name and Phone Number

 8)Note from Race Director: You will have 20 minutes to complete the registration process. The purpose of this is to reserve your spot after you sign in. Please email swimthesuck@gmail.com with questions or if you were online at noon, signed into the IYR system and then had trouble with the process, we will help you, though it will likely not be immediately.

9)Entry Fee: Base registration fee for 2024 is $425.00 (plus the processing fee).  Additional items such as a pilot, kayak rental, extra meals, extra shirts, and hoodie purchase will increase the cost.  

FAQ

  • Can I have more than 1 pilot?  You can have more than one kayaker out on the water with you, but please let the RD know (email karahnazor@gmail.com). You will need to purchase additional meals and t-shirts for the additional pilots. Also, we count the numbers of seats available on our busses.  

  • If you requested a volunteer pilot, you will be paired with your pilots mid September and you will be introduced to your pilot towards the end of the month or early October.     

  • Do you have extra potential pilots coming with you?  Do you have another friend or family member who could volunteer to pilot for another swimmer?  Have them register!  This has happened in the past and is great!

  • Can the event borrow your extra kayak?  Do you have access to an extra kayak the event can borrow?  Please let us know.  

  • Facebook.  To keep up with recent news and developments about the event, please LIKE the Swim the Suck facebook page here:  http://www.facebook.com/SwimTheSuck

  • ITS YOUR RACE APP Though our registration service we have a mobile app!!

    • Download the Its Your Race app

    • App links: iPhone or Android.  Once downloaded open and search for Swim the Suck.  Inside the app we have information on locations, directions, schedule, news, and results.  News will also be posted to the Facebook page.  The app is not restricted to just participants so your family and friends can use the app as well. App links: iPhone or Android  

  • Cancellation Policy: At the discretion of the race director, 50% refunds can be issued before August 1.

  • Questions or changes: If you have any question about the event, please email the Race Director, Karah Nazor, swimthesuck@gmail.com