Sea of Galilee Swim (Israel)
qingli
Member
Hello everyone! I am currently in Israel doing research and I decided to sign up for the Sept. 15th Sea of Galilee race. I was wondering if anyone else here has also done so. I would love to meet the open-water swimming community here.
We can grab a beer before/after!
Hope to meet some of you soon!
http://www.bdg-events.co.il/1/ms_general_info/15/20/2/The_Sea_of_Galilee_Swim.aspx
Best,
Qing Li
We can grab a beer before/after!
Hope to meet some of you soon!
http://www.bdg-events.co.il/1/ms_general_info/15/20/2/The_Sea_of_Galilee_Swim.aspx
Best,
Qing Li
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Comments
If you take the first option, you'll be competing against a fairly small pool of people (last time I did the 6k there were 34 of us). The loop course is 1.5k long. The swim is early in the morning; the water is glassy flat - the chop only starts in the afternoon - and it's very warm. There are no feeding stations, so bring a gel or two with you, but it's a shortish distance so you wouldn't need it anyway.
If you take the second option, you'll be arriving at the Tzemach beach and shuttled by bus to the entry point, then swimming to the exit point. It's lovely! The water is fresh and warm, and many, many people, including very young children, will be doing it. Along the way there are rafts with music.
After the swim is over, you get to socialize and hang out with lots of athletes from all walks of life on the shore. It's a beautiful lake and an event brimming with positive energy.
I can't compete in it this year because I'm swimming Gatorman in San Diego the week before, and flying to Israel in late October to do Three Seas, which are three 10k races on three consecutive days. But I would have loved to do it.
And if you like longer distances than the Kinneret Crossing, do consider joining Three Seas in Three Days! http://events.shvoong.co.il/3in3/
I am definitely, very seriously, considering the Three Seas in Three Days swim. It looks like a fantastic swimming opportunity. I'm not quite sure the cost is do-able yet. I think its 800 shekels without transportation and lodging included? This is right? Have you done it in previous years?
I will definitely join the facebook group!
Niek, the date seems to be wrong on the website you attached. Isn't it the 15th of Sept?
Thanks everyone!
According to the Facebook group, there's no 6k option this year. 1.5 or 3 competitive, and 1.5 and 3.5 noncompetitive.
800 Shekels (approx 200 dollars) is not a huge cost when you take into account that it covers three different races, for which they provide food - GU drinks and gels - as well as kayaks, boats, etc. But yeah, it means you'd have to take care of lodging myself. I stay with friends in the North and in the Center, and get a hotel in Eilat with family. But you can always opt for only doing one or two of the 10k races, if you like, and then the cost goes down.
There are several open water race and events in Israel during the following month.
Emek Hefer http://openwaterswimming.eu/node/6532
Port to port 21/9 Tel Aviv http://www.shvoong.co.il/
I think The sea of Galilee swim is less atractive - water temp might be as high as 29 deg and the water are very unclear.
From what I could find online it's Sept. 20, but not much info. besides that, in English
There are two courses, both noncompetitive - 3.5km (from Ma'agan Beach) and 1.5km (from Kibbutz Ha'On). Both end at Tzemach Beach. Registration is online, and then you take a print-out of your receipt to one of the stores on the website to receive a registration bracelet.
You arrive in Tzemach Beach, which is the finish line and race expo location, with your registration bracelet on hand, and that gives you access to buses that take you to the two different starting locations. You can schlep some items with you, leave them in a bag with a number at the entrance point, and receive them at Tzemach beach. It's a lovely, lovely event - people of all ages and walks of life swim it, and they can rest on rafts that are placed along the way, sometimes with music played on them. Like a big swimming party!
The event is noncompetitive; everyone gets a medal and has a great day. They used to have various competitive courses, but with the proliferation of competitive open water swims, I guess it paid off to keep it as what it is - a big, positive party.
I swam it in 9:30 in winter 2013.
We are considering a trip to Israel in September of 2017 and I am interested in a swim in the Kinneret. Do you have any insights into any 2017 events or people I could contact to do a private crossing of some kind? Thanks in advance!