Open Water Planet returns to the Sandcastle Capital of the World this fall for the 2nd Annual South Padre Island Open Water Festival!  Put the pause on winter arriving and enjoy the warm temperatures and sunny beaches of South Texas.  An island truly unlike any other South Padre offers a host of sports options including kiteboarding, skydiving, swimming and surfing to name a few.  Throw in some of the most scenic sunrises and sunsets you can imagine and you will understand why we call this gem the best-kept secret in Texas! 

Challenge yourself to conquer the Laguna Madre.  The South Padre Island Open Water Festival offers a variety of distance options, meaning we have a little something for everyone.  A full weekend of activities allows you to enjoy everything that this amazing island has to offer,  all while enjoying some of the cleanest water in the country! ****

Compete as an individual or put together a team.  Bring the family or make it an amazing weekend for you and friends. Train hard and come ready to conquer, and celebrate your success.  

"Hosting an event like this in South Padre Island is such a great opportunity to promote open water swimming and competitive swimming to a community that is very supportive to our sport.  This is a city completely surrounded by water,  swimming and water based sports in general,  are a way of life for everyone in this area.  We are excited to bring a unique event like this to South Padre Island."    - Rowdy Gaines

Olympian, NBC Olympic Commentator, SPI OWF Master of Ceremonie

COURSE DESCRIPTION

These races will take place on the bay side of South Padre Island,  with the start and finish line located alongside Pier 19.  Course Description coming soon.  A 10 minute warm up is allowed before the race begins.  This will be an in water start and in water finish with the start gun going off at 8:30am sharp.  Average water temperature on the bay side at that time of year ranges between 71 and 74 degrees.   Athletes will be given a plastic bag with a race chip and assigned number at race check-in.  Please use these bags for any personal belongings that will be left on shore during the event.  There will be a "safe place" for these bags.  

Pre-swimming in the bay along Pier 19 property is prohibited outside of scheduled days/hours and is subject to trespassing ticketing.  KOA, Pier 19 and Open Water Planet are not responsible for any accidents that occur outside of pre-scheduled event hours.  

OPEN WATER FESTIVAL COURSE MAP

Course maps are tentative and subject to change due to weather,  boat traffic,  better or safer routes or any number of reasons.  Click here for full map  

 

SWIMMING CONDUCT

Permissible Strokes. Swimmers may use any stroke to propel themselves through the water and may tread water or float.

Bottom Contact and Resting. A participant may stand on the bottom or rest by holding an inanimate object such as a buoy, boat, rope or floating object. Excluding the bottom, a participant shall not use any inanimate object to gain forward progress. A violation of this section shall result in a variable time penalty, unless the Head Referee in his/her sole discretion determines that (i) the violation was substantial and resulted in an unfair time advantage, or (ii) the violation constituted endangerment. 

Emergencies. A swimmer experiencing difficulty and in need of assistance shall raise an arm overhead, and pump it up and down, and call or seek assistance. A swimmer, who has received official assistance, whether voluntary or involuntary, must retire and withdraw from the remainder of the race unless such assistance did not aid the swimmer in making forward progress. No swimmer shall return to the race if the official rendering assistance requests that the participant withdraw from the race or receive medical assistance.

Wet suits. Participants shall be permitted to wear a wetsuit without penalty up to and including a water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water temperature is greater than 78 degrees, but less than 84 degrees Fahrenheit, participants may wear a wetsuit at their own discretion, provided however that participants who wear a wet suit within this temperature range shall not be eligible for prizes or awards. Participants shall not wear wet suits in water temperatures equal to or greater than 84 degrees Fahrenheit. Any swimmer wearing a wetsuit with a thickness measured in any part greater than 5 millimeters shall be disqualified.

Measuring Water Temperature. It is recommended, but not required that the water temperature for a race be finally determined by a measurement made within 2 hours of the race start. A water temperature measurement should also be taken prior to any pre-race meetings in order to forecast to the athletes as early as possible the likely water temperature on race day and the likelihood of whether wetsuits will be allowed on race day.

Official Equipment. If provided by race management, a swimmer shall wear the proper official swim cap corresponding to his wave. The penalty for an infraction of this rule is a variable time penalty. For safety reasons if no official cap is provided, all swimmers should wear their own brightly colored swim cap.

Goggles. Swimmers may wear, but shall not be required to wear, swim goggles or face masks.

Illegal Equipment. Any swimmer wearing any artificial propulsion device, including but not limited to fins, gloves, paddles, or floating devices of any kind shall be disqualified.