Federal Way Kings swim at the Emerald City Open Water Swim 2004

It was cool morning that found our Federal Way Kings masters swimmers making there way to Seward Park at Lake Washington to swim in the 20th Annual Emerald City Open Water swim.  The event is hosted by the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department.  Dave Gertsch saw the need for an open water swim in Seattle after participating in similar events in California. He organized the first Emerald City Open Water Swim in August of 1984. In the events' first year there were approximately 100 participants. Since then the swim has had as many as 500 swimmers. The swim has developed into a family event with entertainment, awards, and door prizes following the swim. There is at least one family who has three generations of swimmers who compete together each year. Participants enjoy trying to find the year of the swim, which is hidden in the T-shirt design, each year.

This year there were over 300 participants and we boasted 18 swimmers from our club which made for a strong showing in all age groups.  The temperature was perfect, both air and water, with a lake temperature at 71 degrees at start time.  Thanks to the overcast sky there was no sun to contend with although we did have to get several boats out of the way that were moored in the bay, in order to have a straight shot at the first buoy.  The results ceremony was fun, awarding a coffee mug to the top three finishers in each age group, as well as door prizes including tattoos, Seattle Storm tickets, Point Defiance zoo admission (won by Dan Smith's  daughter) and 500 pounds of "Zoo Doo" from the Woodland Park Zoo.

Dan Smith and Kathy Byers both had their children swimming the event, and with them over 12 friends from the King Aquatic club, making it a real family event.  All in all it was a fun event, a good team building event and a sure bet for all your calendars next year.

To see more information about this year's event, Click Here.

To see the results from this year's event, Click Here.

To view pictures from the event, Click Here.

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Last modified: 05/03/08