Last Splash of Summer

Last Splash of Summer, formerly known as Last Gasp of Summer, is a virtual event this year! We can all safely distance, get in a good competitive swim at our favorite open water location and see how we stack up against the competition! Don't worry, if you have been sitting on the couch waiting for the pools to reopen you still have time to get out, find or go to your favorite body of open water, train and enter this event.

DIVISIONS: Divisions offered will be by distance, age, course, gender, and wetsuit/non-wetsuit:

DISTANCES: 500 yards, 1 mile, 2 miles and 5 miles – Available to all swimmers. Those 18 and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian and approval of parent or guardian supplied with entry. Wetsuit / Non-Wetsuit available for all distances.

AGE GROUPS:  2 year age divisions below age 19 (9-10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18). 5 to 6 year age divisions above age 18 (19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85-89, etc.)

Ages determined by date of birth on date of swim.

Special Recognition Certificate:  There will be a category for the design of the course layout. Examples of a course design would be a rabbit, shark, bird, snowman etc. 

REGISTRATION: Event registration fee for each swim is $35 per swimmer or $60 for two divisional swims, or $75 for 3 or 4 divisional swims.  These prices are for all ages.  Swimmers entering more than one distance for which they qualify must do so when they initially register (e.g., sign up for the 1 mile swim and the 2 mile swim, paying $60).  Swimmers must sign up for the specific division they are entering by using the “Run Signup” website (www.runsignup.com/race/wa/seatac/lastsplashofsummer) from July 25th through August 28, 2020.  Swimmers will provide:

• Name and address
• Phone number and Email address
• Division(s) they are swimming
• Date of Birth
• Credit card information
• Shirt size (XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL), XXL is $3.00 more
• A Waiver of liability to Blue Wave Aquatics, its officers, employees and members

Event registration will close at midnight on August 28st and no late entries can be accepted. All registrations are final – no refunds.  Please remember, we are a non-profit organization and want to keep this as simple as we can, and still offer a fun swim after months of being cooped up.

After completing their swim(s), swimmers will use “Run Signup” (www.runsignup.com/race/wa/seatac/lastsplashofsummer), to enter the date, location and time of their swim(s).  Swimmers must also submit a map with date of their swim course as it was swum from a mapping device.  This should also include distance swum and time to complete.  This can be accomplished using your phone with software from “MapMyRun”, “Strava” or other providers.  Garmin, Apple and other manufacturer’s watches will also track your swim and provide a map of your course for submission. Submit your map to lastsplashofsummer@bluewave-aquatics.com. 

SWIMMING: The responsibility for a safe swim is entirely up to the registrant, and/or parent or guardian for those under 19.  Please remember that open water swims are different from pool swimming and they provide additional unique hazards (e.g. weather, temperature, boats, docks, other swimmers not staying in their own lane, to name a few).  Safety should be the primary concern of each participant.

Swims must be completed between August 1st and September 19th, but only after you have registered for the event.  You can swim your race(s) as many times as you want between those dates and only submit your fastest swim(s) (with map(s)).

Distance as reflected on your mapping device for the distance you choose must be at least the following:

• 500 yards or .2841 miles
• 1.0 mile or 1,760 yards
• 2.0 miles or 3,520 yards
• 5.0 miles or 8,800 yards

Time as reflected on your mapping device will be your official time.  So, if you swim 4,000 yards for a two mile swim your time will be how long it took you to swim 4000 yards – no reduction in time for swimming extra.  So, it is good to practice a few times at your favorite open water location to know just how far the distance is you plan to swim – so you don’t swim extra.  No extra credit or time discounting for swimming in freshwater or salt water.  Because you have up to a month and a half to complete your swim you can hopefully find pristine open water conditions.

RESULTS: All results will be emailed to participants at the email provided during registration by September 30, 2020.  Event commemorative shirt, cap and any awards you have earned will be mailed shortly thereafter.  Only one shirt and cap will be provided any individual swimmer regardless of the number of divisional swims for which they sign up.

Blue Wave Aquatics will be contributing a portion of the event net income to Ashley House, one of our sponsors and a non-profit that provides sensitive care to medically fragile children.

Thank you for your interest and participation in our LAST SPLASH OF SUMMER – 2020 pandemic edition.