Enjoy World-Class Open Water Swimming in Award-Winning Destinations

What’s that? Snow falling and a freezing wind buffeting your house as you settle in for a long winter’s nap? Well, don’t sleep too long because U.S. Masters Swimming’s open water national championships are just around the corner!

Check out the fabulous races in great locations around the country that we’ve lined up for this year, starting in April. Can you swim them all?

USMS Sprint- and Long-Distance Open Water National Championships

(1 Mile and 5K)
April 3–4 l Sarasota, Florida

Join USMS for its marquee open water national championship weekend in early April in Sarasota, Florida, for an incredible weekend of sun, fun, and top-tier racing.

Hosted by the Sarasota Sharks, this event featuring the 1-mile and 5K national championship races is one not to be missed. (USA Swimming’s open water nationals will also be April 2–4 at the same venue, the 600-acre Nathan Benderson Park.)

Benderson Park has frequently hosted other major sporting events, including the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Team Rowing trials and the NCAA Rowing Championships, but it also offers a superlative open water racing experience. The calm water will enable you to achieve your best times on a carefully measured course.

Once the racing is over, head into downtown Sarasota for dinner at one of dozens of gourmet restaurants that will please even the most demanding of foodies. Spend a relaxing day on pristine Lido Key’s quiet, white sand beaches lapped by the Gulf of Mexico’s turquoise waters or visit Siesta Key for happy hour at one of its many lively bars or restaurants.

Nearby Turtle Beach is great for paddleboarding, wildlife spotting adventures, and searching for shark’s teeth. And if you’d like to get up close with the animals, check out the new Mote Marine Aquarium, now next to Benderson Park after a $130 million construction project.

When you’ve had enough of the spring sunshine, head indoors to Sarasota’s world-renowned Ringling Museum of Art, which houses a wide range of works from classic European masters to cutting-edge contemporary artists. The museum’s sprawling grounds also include the historic Ca’ d’Zan mansion and lush gardens that will be in full bloom in early April.

Wanna catch a show? “A Beautiful Noise” will be playing at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall through April 4. Or check out the Sarasota Opera’s offerings and live performances at The Bay Park, which hosts a rotating list of local bands and free outdoor movie nights on its expansive green lawn.

And, of course, there’s shopping aplenty for the discerning retail enthusiast at St. Armand’s Circle on Lido Key. There you can check out a wide range of galleries to take a special piece of Sarasota’s art scene home with you.

USMS Marathon-Distance Open Water National Championship

(10K)
July 18 l Applegate Lake, Oregon

Rogue Valley Masters will put on a terrific event at Applegate Lake in southern Oregon in mid-July for the USMS Marathon-Distance Open Water National Championship. This stunning alpine lake in the Siskiyou National Forest sits right on the border with California in the thick of wine country.

Make a vacation of it. Try camping in the national forest, which offers superior hiking trails, campgrounds, and stunning mountain vistas everywhere you look. Or check out the lush, rolling vineyards that dot the Applegate Valley Wine Trail to sample some delicious local produce. Either way, it’ll be a trip to remember.

USMS Middle-Distance Open Water National Championship

(2 Miles)
July 25 l Stillwater, Minnesota

Head to Square Lake to see one of the prettiest of Minnesota’s proverbial 10,000 lakes to swim the USMS Middle-Distance Open Water National Championship. Located a short drive from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and about 2 miles from the Wisconsin border, Square Lake’s 200 acres of calm, crystal-clear, 80-degree water promise a spectacular swimming experience for all participants.

When you’ve dried off, head into historic downtown Stillwater, called the birthplace of Minnesota, for a healthy dose of arts and culture, food and drink. Or better yet, why not go for a gondola ride down the river or soar above in a hot air balloon?

Stillwater is also something of a cycling hotspot; check out the many trails or rent an electric bike for an efficient way to zip around town to see all the sights. Or for the hops inclined, hop aboard the Biercycle Adventure that allows you to pedal the riverfront and streets of downtown on a motorized cycle vehicle that accommodates up to 13 people and plenty of beers.