Bear Lake Monster Swim
Saturday, July 19th, 2025
The Bear Lake Monster swim consists of three separate events:
½ mile swim
1 mile swim
10K swim (solo and relay)
Venue: Bear Lake State Park Marina (940 North Bear Lake Boulevard,
Garden City, Utah 84028)
Park Access and Parking: If you own a Utah State Parks Pass, PLEASE USE IT. If you don’t and need access to the park, please print out the parking pass accompanying this document in your race packet email. You must print out this pass on your own and remember to bring it with you; otherwise, you will be responsible for purchasing your own day pass when you arrive at the gate. PLEASE only print out one pass per swimmer. Relay swimmers, please carpool as much as possible. Each pass costs us after the race, and we have tried our best to be as financially responsible with your entry fees. The parking pass is on the last page of this document.
Race location within the park: In years past, we used the north beach of the marina, but that is under construction at this time, so we will be congregating and starting the race at the south end of the marina. (See picture below for details)
Race Day Timeline:
7:00 am swimmers can start to check in
7:45 am Swimmer meeting for ½ mile and 1 mile swim
8:00 am ½ Mile and 1-mile swim race starts
8:30 - Check in for the 10K closes
8:45 - 10K Swimmer and support boat pre-race meeting
9:00 am - 10K Race starts
3:00 pm - 10K cut-off time
Swimmer Categories:
Unassisted - Only the following equipment is allowed
Swim cap – usually a single, porous silicone, latex, or fabric cap.
Goggles
Standard swimsuit – must be textile (not neoprene or rubber), not covering past the shoulders or below the knees.
Grease (like lanolin or petroleum jelly) – for chafing and cold protection.
Earplugs and nose clips – allowed for comfort, not performance.
Assisted - Any performance-enhancing equipment not listed above. Examples of additional equipment that would disqualify swimming in the unassisted category:
Wetsuits or neoprene suits
Fins, hand paddles, pull buoys, or kickboards
Buoyant aids like wetsuits or flotation devices
Full-body swimsuits or any material that traps air or adds buoyancy
Smart goggles which provide real-time visual feedback for pacing, navigation or metrics
MP3 Players music used to help swimmer with maintaining a rhythm or beat
Physical contact with the boat, people, or any support object
½ Mile and 1 Mile Information
At 8:45 am all the ½ mile and 1 mile swimmers will meet at the south part of the marina, where we will have a quick meeting to explain the following swimming procedures:
Swimmers will start in the water along the wall at a depth near the starting buoy where they will swim to the Buoy #2 as shown above. Please swim counter-clockwise, keeping the buoy just to your left (if you are swimming the mile). If you are swimming the ½ mile, you will swim around the buoy keeping the buoy on your left. Then swim back. Mile swimmers will continue past the first buoy and swim around the second buoy and swim back, keeping the buoys on your left. We hope this will avoid any head-on collisions with swimmers that are behind you.
We will have several support vessels out on the water to help guide you and ensure your safety. There are no rules in regards to stroke, or style. So feel free to swim at your own pace, or to rest and float on your back, but if you find yourself overly exhausted and out of breath, please wave your hand at any support vessel for assistance.
As you return to the finish buoy please touch the buoy which will be the moment we stop the clock for you. The clock starts at the same time for everyone, but the finish will occur for you once you make contact with the buoy. Take your time getting out as there are large rocks at that point and we want to make sure you get out safely. You may want to have some water shoes available near the start to make it easier for you.
Please wear sunscreen as the time spent in the water for the 1 mile race may be long enough to burn.
Feel free to text any questions to Gordon (385-238-9294) or Joelle (435-225-3921)
10K Course (Relay and Solo)
Paddlers - Prior to the 10K we will be having the ½ and 1 mile race. We do this to encourage support from the 10K paddlers to help monitor the course during the earlier race. They don’t have to paddle the whole thing, just be out there to help monitor a small portion of the mile course. Any paddlers who volunteer to help with the mile course will be able to pick out a t-shirt from races we’ve had in the past out of the bin. Just inform us that you’ll help paddle for the mile race and pick out a shirt at check-in. We won’t be mailing out any shirts.
At 8:45 we will be holding the 10K swimmer/support meeting at the south end of the marina near the starting buoy. Each swimmer should already have a swimmer packet with the contact numbers to call should you need any help, also provided below.
At 9:00am we will start the Relay swimmers first as a group together. Allowing them and their support boats to clear the area before we start the solo swimmers.
At 9:10am we will start the solo swimmers.
Here is the course to take for the 10K. You will swim east towards Black Mountain (see below). The finish is a little south of a straight line to black mountain. Trust your support crew. They should try to keep their bow directed right toward the finish. If you try to sight instead of trust their abilities, you will waste energy and time getting to the finish. Their job is to get you there. Your job is to swim alongside them.
10K Finish (Cisco Beach Campground Entrance)
From the marina, when you look to the east, you should see top of Black Mountain. It looks like a nipple.
Support boat tips:
Be aware that if you, as a support pilot, steer directly to that mountain, you will end up about ½ mile too far north. Look at the map on the previous page. You need to aim a little to the right of that mountain top. If you aim for that point at the start, you should be fine, but as you get about ½ way across, start to steer to the right of that a little until you can see the Cisco Beach Campground Entrance. (See previous page image of the location of the green finish buoy. The green finish buoy is only about 3 feet wide, so it may be difficult to see from afar. But keep going, you’ll see a row of cars and a sun tent, with that green finish buoy right in front on the water’s edge.
It is your job as a support pilot to keep the swimmer in line with the course. If you paddle behind or in front of the swimmer, you are not providing the kind of course direction that is needed if you stay to the side of the swimmer as they breathe to see you at their “9 o'clock” or “3 o'clock”.
Keep in mind that the swimmer may be in need of liquids or even solid food to keep them fueled. Just hand or throw them their fuel of choice. Avoid touching them. Try just tossing things back and forth. Contact with the boat and hanging on immediately puts them in the assisted category.
Stay positive and upbeat for the swimmer, and take care of yourself too. Paddling a 10K is not easy either. Be sure to stay hydrated yourself and protected from the sun.
Be sure to keep your phone charged and safe, should you need it in case of an emergency.
Emergency Procedures (if needed): This will also be provided at the race check-in
If you need help, call
Safety Director: Gordon Gridley 385-238-9294
Utah State Parks: 435-946-3343
Race Director: Joelle Brown-Beard 435-225-3921
Sheriff Dispatch: 435-946-3210
If you have a real emergency:
1) Give your swimmer and PFD and try to get them in your boat
2) call 911
Tell the dispatcher you are accompanying a swimmer across Bear Lake and provide the following
Your location (Bear Lake between Cisco Beach on east side, and Utah State Marina on west side) It is best to have a GPS with you and give them your coordinates!
The nature of your emergency.
Your boat color/size
Swimmer’s name/Kayaker's name and swimmer’s race number
We have an MD on hand at the starting point who can help in an emergency should there be a need.
10K Finish procedures:
Once you get close to the green finish buoy, the support person should yell loudly out the swimmer's number to the timing crew. They will then make note of the time once the swimmer makes contact with the finish buoy, which will be very close to shore. There are large boulders and rocks on this beach. We will NOT have a beach finish as it is dangerous for swimmers to rush out of the water and fall on rocks. The finish will be accomplished by touching the buoy. Please take your time getting out and avoid slipping. We will have a finishers medal there for you as you exit the water.
Swimmers and support crew are responsible for their own transportation back to the start.
Results:
Results will be posted as soon as possible to the event website:
https://bearlakemonsterswim.blogspot.com/
If you need a parking pass, please refer to your email. If you didn't get it, please request one by emailing me at ggridley@gordongridley.us