Vidösternsimmet Viking, The Longest Open Water Race in Sweden x2
VIDÖSTERNSIMMET VIKING +42km
TL;DR This challenge is probably not for you!
Without a doubt the longest and toughest Open Water challenge you can try to overcome in a controlled way. The team behind the well known Vidösternsimmet +21km , goes ultra-ultra by double the already long swim. Giving you the chance to conquer the lake Vidöstern twice.
Northbound +21km: You swim through the night guided by a kayak from which you get all service and support needed.
Southbound +21km: After reaching the north shore of the lake Vidöstern, you have to wait for the clock to turn 07:00, and then start the classic +21km swim. The ordinary cut off times apply and only standard support from the feeding stations and patrol boats are given. You will have to navigate by yourself aiming for the next big yellow marker buoy on your way to Sundet.
DIGITAL PRERACE
A digital prerace on the Zoom Meeting platform will be held the week before the race. We will send you a link to the meeting by email.
During the prerace we will walk you through the race, answer your questions and to give you updates on the predicted weather conditions.
PRICE
When you register you also select a time span in which you will complete the first +21km leg. We will pair the participants together in groups of two or three swimmers with the same pace. If you have a swim buddy you can enter her/his name along with your registration. The price is SEK 6500:-
Last day for sign up is July 7, 2023, 11.59 pm
SAFETY
Participation is entirely at your risk. To be allowed to start, you will need to sign a document in which you take on full responsibility during the race and obey to follow the instructions from our safety officer. A wetsuit is one of the safety measurements in this race. It is mandatory for safety reasons. If you are an experienced Open Water Swimmer used to swim without a wetsuit, please contact info@vidosternsimmet.se with your details..
We follow the recommendations of the Swedish Swimming Federation regarding the use of a wetsuit and urges you to follow them too: “Below 16° C a wetsuit is obligatory, between 16° C and 18° C a wetsuit is recommended, between 18° C and 23° C a wetsuit is allowed. Above 23° C a wetsuit is not allowed for health reasons”.
In case the temperature would be above 23° C the race management highly recommends that you carry out the race without a wetsuit, but cannot oblige you to do so. Current temperatures will be given at the Prerace meeting and you can also find them at https://bit.ly/VidoTemp . Throughout the entire race the responsibility for your health is yours.
A tow float/Safeswimmer, is yet another of the safety measurements in this race and the use of is mandatory. It has multiple functions:
→ to show where you are.
→ to help you float, if necessary
→ to let us identify you
It is attached to your waist and it floats about half a meter behind you.
All swimmers are recommended to use the swim cap handed out to you at the prerace meeting. Either you use our swim cap or use no swim cap at all.
KAYAKS
We have organised kayaks and experienced kayakers based on wether you will swim in a duo or as part of a trio. A good communication between the swimmers and the kayakers is needed during the night
- The kayaker’s task is to guide the swimmers through the night.
- You will get all support needed from the kayak when you swim northbound.
- There will be a couple of short stops along the way in which the kayaker may be switched.
The organization that we dimensioned for the nightswimming is based on swimmers in groups swimming together and not letting the distance between the group members exceed more than 10 meters. Participants need to fill in a time schedule and an energy schedule that shows at what time you plan to pass selected marker buoys and when you want food and drink.
If you arrive at Osudden after your fist 21km, later than 7 am, you may still continue swimming. The first cut off time is at Funtabo, with the last passing time at 8.50 am.
PATROL BOATS
There will be boats all along the track, one per 1000 meters, going back and forth. It is your responsibility to notify a member of the race staff if you decide to discontinue the race. A doctor and other medically trained staff with knowledge of CPR will be present at the race.
- Call on a boat by waving your hand.
- Show that everything is okey with a thumb up
Along the entire race there will be about 20 big, yellow buoys to help you navigate. The distance between them will be approximately 1000 meters. If you would diverge from the course, the staff on the boats will help you back on track.
The organizer has the right to:
Postpone the start by 1-2 hours if there is fog, thunder, etc.
Cancel the race in case of thunder.
If it is foggy we will guide you with a kayak. Please note that nobody is alowed to swim past the kayaks until the safety personnel says it OK.
In bad weather conditions which endanger the safety of swimmers and crew, cancel the entire event.
Restrict the number of swimmers
LEGS 42 KM
- The whole lake Vidöstern, northbound 21500 m
- Osudden-Funtabo 3700 m
- Funtabo-Tånnö 3900 m
- Tånnö-E4:ans Camping 5500 m
- E4:an Camping-Ekens Camping 3400 m
- Ekens Camping-Sundet 5000 m
TIME LIMIT / CUT OFF TIMES
To be able to maintain a high safety we have set time limits at the feeding stations during the regular +21 km race. If you arrive after the cut off time you will be taken out of the race and may NOT, under any circumstances continue the race.
Clarification: Even if you have your boat accompanying you, you may NOT continue. Even if you miss the time by only one minute, you may NOT continue. Even if you throw away your tow float and swim cap and say that you don´t care about the competition, you only want to swim to the finish line; you may NOT continue.
The time limits (cut-off times) for the soutbound part:
- The target for the first +21km, is to be ready for the regular +21km start at 07.00 am at Osudden.
Note: The “start area” at Osudden is open from 06.00 am to 07.15 am - Funtabo 3700 m, Last time to pass 08.50 am
- Tånnö 7600 m, Last time to pass 11.00 am
- E4:ans 13100 m, Last time to pass 02.00 pm
- Ekens 16500 m, Last time to pass 03.15 pm
The maximum time to get an official result and a “Finisher T-shirt” is 10:30 hours for the southbound part.
All those who make it pass the cut off time at Ekens at 3.15 pm, and completes the race, receives a medal, even if the total time exceeds the 10:30 hour limit.
FOOD – BEVERAGES
During the nightswimming you will get all support, food and drink from the kayak. While swimming southbound, you will be supported by the regular support organisation.
There will be five depots where you can get drinks, food and energy.
- Funtabo after approx 3700 m (a raft in the water)
- Tånnö after approx 7600 m
- E4:ans after approx 13100 m
- Ekens after approx 16500 m
- Gyllene Rasten after approx 19000 m (a raft in the water)
In each patrol boat there will be Umara U-gel Raspberry (without caffeine) and Cola (with caffeine) and water during the race.
Drinks:
Water, Sports drinks (Umara sport), Coca-Cola, (Kaffe)
Food /Energy:
U-bar – Energy bar (in the flavors: coconut, cranberries, apple/cinnamon and mint choclate)
U-gel – Raspberry and Cola
bananas, cinnamon buns, snickers, candy
In each patrol boat there will be Umara U-gel Raspberry and water during the swim.
If you want your own food, in addition to what we offer, we have a solution for that. All the special food is put in a box, marked “specialkost” marked with your number from the starting list. From that box you can fetch your food during the race at the food stops.
When you reach the finish area you will be served food, coffee and waffles. Tickets used to get this is included in the finish-kit you’ll recieve after you finished your swim in Sundet.
TRANSPORTATION
We arrange for you to be picked up in the central parts of Värnamo.
You will arrive at the Sundet at least 45 minutes before the start time slot of your choice.
You may bring your own car toSundet, there are parking lots nearby (see map). We will transport you back to the central parts of Värnamo after the race.
When you would like to get transported you notify the staff at the counter at the finishing area. You may choose between the following departures from Sundet;
2:30 pm
3:15 pm
4:00 pm
4:45 pm
5:30 pm
6.15 pm
CHANGE OF CLOTHES
Transportation of your change of clothes is taken care of. There are no changing rooms at the start, which means that you change your clothes outdoors. You put your belongings in a marked, black plastic bag, which we transport to the finishing area.
FACILITIES
There are toilets at the start and at the depots at Tånnö, E4:ans Camping, Ekens Camping and at the finishing area.
ACCOMODATION
There are several hotels and bed and breakfasts in Värnamo see www.varnamo.se
TIMING
During the race you will have a chip attached round your wrist and it will automatically check you in and out at the different feeding stations. After the race the preliminary times are presented. The detailed lists of results will be on our webpage within 1 day. You will be able to see your specific time according to time spent on land and time in water. The timing chip is included in the start-kit you will recieve at the prerace.
DICONTINUED RACE
If you decide to discontinue the race, immediately notify nearest member of the race staff, on land or in a boat. You will be picked up within 15-30 minutes and will be taken to the finish area where you will find your clothes, a hot tub, food and a possibility to shower. Then you can use the regular transportation from the finishing area back to the start or to central Värnamo.