The 9th Annual Great Ohio River Swim (GORS) will take place on Sunday, September 25 starting at 8:15 am at Cincinnati’s Serpentine Wall.
Sponsored by Outdoor Adventure Clubs of Greater Cincinnati (OAC) and managed by Tuscon Racing, Inc., the annual swim has grown into the largest cross river open water swimming event on the Ohio River. Over 150 teen and adult swimmers are expected to participate in the 900 yard swim from the Serpentine Wall across the Ohio to the Kentucky side and back to the finish line at the Cincinnati Public Landing. Over 850 people ages 10-85 have completed the Swim over the past eight years.
“This is a fun and safe opportunity for people of all ages to swim across the Ohio,” said Brewster Rhoads, Swim Chair and OAC Board member. “Swimmers are invariably impressed with the cleanliness and beauty of the Ohio – and they become more committed to protecting it.”
“We are anticipating record participation this year by area high school, college and club swim teams,” said Jonathan Grinder, President and CEO of Tuscon Racing. “This event is a great way to highlight Greater Cincinnati’s national reputation as a center of excellence for competitive swimming.”
Check-in and on-site registration will begin at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, September 25 at the Cincinnati Public Landing. Parking will be available for participants on the Public Landing for $5 per vehicle.
An Open Water Swim Clinic and pre-race orientation meeting will begin at 7:30 a.m. Topics to be covered include open water freestyle stroke, sighting, drafting, currents, start and finish, lifeguards and strategy. The clinic is free and open to the general public. One does not have to be registered for the Swim to attend. Registration and check-in will close at 7:45 a.m. with the timed swim beginning promptly at 8:15 a.m.
On line and on site registration is $25 for adults 23 and over and $20 for adults and teens 22 and younger. Swimmers who are NOT members of USA Triathlon must pay an additional $12 per person for mandatory insurance coverage.
The Ohio River will be closed to barge and power boat traffic by order of the U.S. Coast Guard from 8-9 a.m.
Certified lifeguards and safety boats will be deployed in the Ohio during the swim. Safety boom will be deployed by Peter Cremer North America to add additional protection for swimmers as they approach the finish line on the Public Landing.
The swim will be timed. The award ceremony for winners in each competition class will take place at 9:30 a.m.
The Ohio will be tested for water quality by the Ohio River Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) in advance of the event.
Proceeds from the Great Ohio River Swim will benefit Outdoor Adventure Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, a non-profit organization that works in 19 inner city high schools to get urban teens out into nature year round. More information about OAC is available at www.oacgc.org.
More information including video, race results from previous years and registration information is available at: www.greatohioriverswim.com.