Valkyrie Segment: Open Water Swim
Full
OVERVIEW
The Valkyrie Relay spans nearly 100 miles of Utah’s spectacular ‘Wasatch Back’ mountain range. The event pits teams of up to 9 specialized competitors, each racing against the clock and exchanging between trail running, kayak/canoe paddling, marathon, mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding, open water swimming, and road cycling.
Open Swimmers complete an out-and-back 1.0-mile course in the calm water of the Main Creek Inlet of Deer Creek Reservoir. Deer Creek is known to be a destination for wind-propelled sports. The SWM course is the stark exception, aided by Valkyrie’s exclusive use. Swim without the worry of conflict with boaters.
INFO
Teammates: 1
Distance: 1.0 mls / 0.6 km
Start: Wallsburg Group Area
Finish: Deer Creek Reservoir
Time: 9:45 am – 4:45 pm
Register
Parking Information
SUP > SWM Exchange & SWM Finish: The limited parking at the Wallsburg Group Area is for the Valkyrie Relay operational vehicles and SUP and Open Swim competitor and gear load & unloading only. The Wallsburg Group Area will be dedicated to the Valkyrie Relay and closed to the general public during course hours, 10:45 am - 4:45 pm. The nearest dedicated parking for competitors and their gear is at the Choke Cherry Campground/Valkyrie Relay Bivouac at the south end of Deer Creek Reservoir between miles 19 & 20 of US-189. Some vehicle staging is available at day-use parking and highway turnouts nearby (driver remains with the vehicle) as drivers wait to load/unload Swimmers, SUP Paddlers, and their gear. (see diagram)
*Parking is limited along the course so we highly suggest that your team travel together as much as possible, ideally having a team vehicle (s) with non-competing drivers that can pick-up and drop off team members and gear along the course as the race progresses. Please review the section on event parking and the Valkyrie Relay Bivouac.
Transition Information
Exchange Zone Details: SUP > SWM: SUP paddlers beach themselves on the inland end of the Main Creek Inlet. The SUP board must be carried out and free of the beachhead before the Open Water swimmer may begin. The swimmer may assist the SUP paddler in carrying the board. Once SUP Paddlers come ashore, the board must be returned to its staging area before the SWM counterpart can begin.
Exchange Zone Details: SWM Finish: The SWM course is out and back. The swimmer must return to the Wallsburg Group Area beachhead, exit the water and cross the timing sensor to finish the combined SUP & SWM split time. The combined SUP & SWM split time will be combined with the other sports for your team's aggregate Valkyrie Relay Finish time.
Segment Rules
1. Your team member must complete this leg and tag your Open Swim teammate before the SUP course has closed.
2. Racers may use any swim stroke, without assistance.
3. Wetsuits, water shoes, and or swim socks are allowed as long as they do not provide additional propulsion.
4. All teams MUST provide for their Swimmer a spotter in the water, using a canoe, kayak, or SUP. The spotter will keep pace with the swimmer, parallel to the SWM course, and will assist in any safety-related eventuality, should their SWM counterpart require it.
5. No floatation devices or snorkels, or hand paddles are allowed. The exception with this would be for swimmers discontinuing the race, being assisted by flotation or watercraft or for safety reasons where a racer needs to avoid or maybe put into a potentially dangerous situation that would put them or others at risk.
6. Headphones are strictly prohibited on this leg of the race.
7. Like weather-driven chop, boat wakes are considered natural conditions. State Park personnel will close the Main Creek Inlet to Valkyrie competitors only during official course hours, 10:45 am - 4:45 pm. No general public use will be allowed.
8. Racers shall be mindful of the hand signals to be used if someone is injured, in danger. All competitors should be mindful of any persons that may be in danger during the course of the race and should assist or help get the safety staff's attention.
9. The event organizer reserves the right to remove a swimmer from the course if, in our judgment, it is possible that serious or fatal injury could result from continued participation.
10. All swimmers must be at the SUP staging Area for the tag up and NOT already in the water.
11. Once complete SUP & SWM competitors should pack up and head to Soldier Hollow Nordic Center to see your Road Cyclist complete the final leg of the race.
