Swimmers aged 11 and older will test their open water swimming skills during the 10th annual Wilmington Family YMCA Pier-2-Pier swim in Wrightsville Beach Saturday, Sept. 13.
The 2-mile swim will begin at either Johnnie Mercer’s Pier or Crystal Pier, depending on the prevailing ocean current on race day. With .3 miles added for the swim out from shore and back in, the distance between the two piers is 1.71 miles.
Around 350 competitors plunged in to participate in the ninth annual Pier-2-Pier swim in 2013. Then 16-year-old Hoggard High School student Jimbo Short took first place overall with a time of 31:27.
Again this year there will be age groups for every five years and awards for the top three in each, as well as awards for top overall male, overall female and overall masters.
Gavin Spake, YMCA Cape Fear Aquatic Club head coach, said proceeds from registration will help the club fund trips to races around the region. The club is comprised of young swimmers as young as 5 years old and Spake said he has been encouraging those old enough to race in the Pier-2-Pier this year.
“I used to swim in this race in high school so I have been around this race for a while,” Spake said. “I am just excited to get out there, have fun and watch all the kids race out there.”
The race will begin at 9 a.m. Sept. 13 with a pre-race briefing at 8:45 a.m. Check in will begin Friday, Sept. 12, from 5-7 p.m. at Toad Hollow Athletes on Racine Drive, or at the starting pier on race day beginning at 6:30 a.m. Each swimmer will be required to wear a brightly colored, numbered swim cap provided at check in. No wetsuits are allowed during the swim. Timing will be kept with ChampionChip anklet tags.
For more information and to register, visit www.pier-2-pier.com
email [email protected]
