Swim The Fish 2025

Swim the Fish is a 1 mile, 1/2 mile, or 5K (3.1 miles) open water swim race benefiting the Wave's community benefit programs which include; Membership Assistance Program for those in financial need, School to Pool and A+ student free access.  

The races will take place on a loop course starting and finishing at Whitefish City Beach. 

Registration/Cost

Registration is found online through race day. 

• Fees for all swim distances are $45 through July 31st at 11:59 PM.
• Late and same day registration runs from August 1 - August 9 and is $60. 

Please note:

• You will not be guaranteed a race packet if signing up during late or same day registration time period. 
• Swimmers under 18 must have a certified swim coach’s prior approval to swim by emailing the race director, Carrie Jacobs (carriemjacobs@gmail.com) upon signup. The certified swim coach must be able to prove proficient open water swimming ability from the minor. 
• "Angel swimmers" are necessary for anyone aged 13 and under. An angel swimmer is a proficient swimmer who is at least 18 years old who will be with the child and within arms reach of them at all times during the race. No exception. We will confirm who your angel swimmer is at packet pickup. 

Race Packet Pickup
You will be able to pick up your race packet at The Wave Aquatics and Fitness Center  (1250 Baker Avenue, Whitefish) on August 8th from 3 to 6 PM. Please note: You will have until August 8th @ 6 PM to change your distance of swim you registered for. Please contact Carrie Jacobs | carriemjacobs@gmail.com to change your distance, or let us know at the time of packet pickup. There will not be any changes to races the morning of the race. Please plan accordingly.
 
Race Morning

Swimmers can check in and pick up their race packet if they haven't done so the night before, starting at 6:30 AM the morning of the race. You will not be able to change your distance of swim the morning of the race. Race day registration will be available online and will be $60. You will not be guaranteed race swag if registering during the late registration period, at packet pickup, or the morning of the race.

Please note there is a public parking lot close by that will be open on race morning. Please obey all street signs.

There will be mandatory athlete meetings the morning of the race, see schedule below. All meetings will take place on the beach in front of the arch - which will be your start and finish line!

5K Race: 

• 7:50 – mandatory athlete briefing
• 8:00 – race begins

The course is a three loop course beginning and ending under the arch on City Beach.

1 Mile Race: 

• 8:05 – mandatory athlete briefing
• 8:10 – race begins

The course is a one loop course beginning and ending under the arch on City Beach.

½ Mile Race: 

• 8:15 – mandatory athlete briefing
• 8:20 – race begins

The course consists of an out and back swim beginning and ending under the arch on City Beach.

Swim your race, cheer on others as they finish, and stick around for the awards ceremony which will feature the top three swimmers in each race and age category being recognized! There will be finish line food and refreshments available. You won’t want to miss the finish line party! 

Results

Results will be posted online at the Wave’s website, after they are finalized, and at Competitive Timing, our awesome timing company we are utilizing again this year!. There will only be 1 category this year regardless if you choose to swim in a wetsuit or in a swimsuit. Awards will be given to the top male and female racer in each age division for the 5K, 1 mile, and ½ mile swims.

Age group divisions for both men and women:

• 10 and under;
• 11-18;
• 19-29;
• 30-39;
• 40-49;
• 50-59;
• 60-69;
• and 70+

Safety and Refund Policy

Safety is Our Number One Concern. We will update racers on any current precautions and requirements we will be following on race day. Please be prepared for changing weather conditions and prepare accordingly.

Pre-Race Meeting: All athletes are required to attend the pre-race meeting to learn about race day water conditions, the course, and emergency procedures.

Swimmer Identification: All athletes will be required to be marked with a number, and wear the cap given to them in their race packet.

Air Quality: Because of the frequency of wildfires in the region, we monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI) and have implemented the following policy:
• We will monitor the air quality conditions during race week.
• The race will proceed as scheduled at 8:00 AM if the AQI remains in the orange category (150 and under).
• We will check the AQI 60 minutes before the race start and communicate updates via email and social media.
For more information on AQI, please refer to the Department of Environmental Quality.

Important Weather Considerations: In the event of adverse weather or water conditions, including wave heights exceeding 1.5 feet, we may need to cancel or modify the race. Factors Influencing Cancellation Include:
• Wave height and water conditions
• Current weather forecasts (wind speed, storms)
• Safety recommendations from local authorities
As weather and wind conditions evolve, we will continue to monitor the AQI and water conditions and make any necessary announcements. Please check the race website and our social media channels for updates.

We look forward to seeing you in Whitefish on August 9th! 

Questions

For any questions regarding Swim the Fish please contact Carrie Jacobs at carriemjacobs@gmail.com.