OWS in Charlotte

If you can wait until spring, the YMCA @ Lake Norman has staffed and guarded OWS every couple weeks starting usually in April.  Lots of people at these swims.

http://www.ymcacharlotte.org/branches/lakenorman/healthyliving/health/aquatics/ows.aspx

Other than that, you would need a friend to take you out on Lake Wylie or Norman as I would never swim in those lakes without a boat or kayak escort as there is too much boat traffic.

Perfect, I'll look forward to those.  Thanks!

I just used the route creator here on BT to map out an OWS I am thinking of hosting.  It works out to about 350 meters.  It can be extended to about 450 meters or more depending on skill level and how far out into the channel one might swim.  It is a point-to-point swim and will provide rough water but a fair amount of protection from boat traffic seeing as it stays fairly close to shore (within 100 feet of the shoreline).

The location is also good for a swim/run brick if interested.

baxt3r, I would be interested.  Would it be possible to have longer distances - say up to 1500m?

You can swim until the jet ski runs out of gas.  The shorter distance was simply a point-to-point from the boat ramp to the swim beach.  To the bridge and back is right around a mile starting from the boat ramp. 

Sounds cool.  Keep us posted.

Do you live in the area?  My grandfather used to have a place back in Boyd's Cove on Chatfield Lane.

Count me as interested. 

Would be better if you could get a boat with a loaded cooler of beer on board to chase...especially when Wylie gets up to 90 degrees in the nuclear summer!

Put this man on the organizing committee.

This all sounds awesome. 

You could check out the Lake Norman YMCA OWS schedule and sort of fill in the gaps.  I like going out there because the riding after is great.

I don't care so much about dates, just don't make it 8am.  You have to get to the Y ones so freaking early if you want to go out with an early wave plus the 30 min drive kill me and honestly kept me at home all last year.

9am+ please!

And you call yourself a triathlete.

Yes...I have to do a 100 mile ride and 20 mile run before the 9am swim!

baxt3r - 2012-01-07 5:36 PM I would most likely be looking to start around 10 if possible. As a bonus, this swim would be free instead of paying to use the Y at Lake Norman. I will accept donations for gas in the jet skis, but that's it and it's optional.

Excellent!