Swimmers hitting the canal Saturday

Welland will play host to a unique event Saturday as the Canaqua Sports Open Water Swim Series comes to the Rose City.

“This is our first event of the year,” said series owner and race director Ian Feldman. “We have the open swim with one-, threeand five-kilometre swims, and we have the Welland SwimRun Challenge.”

The SwimRun Challenge is new this year and is something a little bit different, said Feldman.

“We brought to Canada last year … it’s huge in Europe. I heard about it four years ago and did my first one in Sudbury last year.”

The SwimRun Challenge is an 8.2-km event which sees participants swim for a kilometre, get out of the water and run 2½ kilometres, head back into the water and swim for 200 metres, get out and run another 2½ kilometres and then head back into the water for a final one-kilometre swim.

“For most people, it takes about an hour. It’s very unique.”

Adding to the unique factor of the event is the fact that swimming aids — hand paddles, fins, pull buoys, wetsuits — are permitted but must be worn or carried during the run. Likewise, running shoes must be worn or carried during the swim.

“Whatever equipment or piece of clothing you start with, it has to stay with you. I’ve literally seen people swim with their running shoes on and run with their wetsuits on,” he said.

Feldman hopes to grow it into a national event.

The open water swim will see participants take on courses of one, three or five kilometres in length at the PenFinancial Flatwater Community Centre course, 1087 Thorold Rd. E., on the north end of the Welland Recreational Canal.

“I’m anticipating the water temperature will be between 18 and 19 Celsius. It was 16 C last week.”

It’s expected at least 40 people will take part in the event. Same day registrations are accepted, as long as people make it for registration at 7:30 a.m.

Everything gets underway at 9 a.m. and should finish between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Spectators are welcome.

Canaqua Sports Open Water Swim Series will wrap its 10event year in Welland with a 15-km open water swim, the longest open swim in Canada, in September at Welland International Flatwater Centre.