Paddler Information

Paddler Info

We are looking for volunteers to help as support craft for the race. If you are interested in volunteering as a paddler, contact:

paddlerinfo@horsetoothswim.com

Schedule

Please see the Race Info page for a schedule. But a few notes.

Parking should be open by 5:00am. When you arrive at the start, you will need to checkin with a volunteer to let them know you arrived. Then carry your boat down to the water, use the rest room, etc.
At 6:15 there will be a brief paddler meeting where we will go over any last minute talks and make sure you have talked with your swimmer. This should only take about 5 minutes.
If you have not talked with your swimmer, please do so before 6:30am
At 6:30am I want everyone headed out in the water to their designated starting locations.
At 7am the race will start and you get to look for your swimmer!

Requirements for Paddlers:

Paddler(s) need to supply their own craft.
Paddler(s) must be familiar with the boat they are using.
Paddler(s) must have a PFD for each paddler plus a swimmer. This means if you have 2 paddlers, you need 3 PFDs (Personal Floatation Device).
10K Paddler(s) must be physically able to paddle for up to 5 hours without stopping. 10K paddlers will be paddling the length of the reservoir.
2.4 & 1 mile, 1000 & 250 yard paddler(s) must be physically able to paddle for up to 2 hours without stopping. These paddlers will be assigned a zone of the race course to cover.
10K Paddler(s) must attend the pre-race meeting/dinner on Saturday night.

Canoe/Kayak Rental Shopes

The following shops in Fort Collins rent canoes or kayaks:

Paddler Rules/Info

Do NOT bring a swimmer into your boat. This may (and has) capsized the paddlers boat, which then adds 1-2 more people to be rescued. Throw the swimmer a PFD and signal a rescue craft. IF you are confident about your stability, you may have the swimmer hold onto the boat. The best locations for this is the bow or stern of the boat. This is not recommended.
Signaling for help. Signal for help by raising your paddle into the air and waving it back and forth. If you have a whistle, blow on it in addition to this. The paddle in the air will be watched for by the Dive/Rescue team and help will come.
Similarly, one should NOT wave your paddle in the air to signal to a friend on shore that here I am. A waved paddle will bring Dive Rescue rushing to you. We do not want them to rush around if not needed. Generally they will drive slowly to reduce wakes, but in an emergency that will not be the case.
Bring appropriate clothing for being on the water for 2-5 hours (10K could be 5 hours). Bring food/water for yourself as well. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
You are not being asked to play referree in the swim. By the same token, try not to encourage swimmers to break rules.
Try to be alert for signs/symptoms of a swimmer having troubles either due to exhaustion or hypothermia. With later stages of either of these, the swimmers own judgement is impaired so they will be relying on you.
Always be aware of where other paddlers and swimmers are with respect to you. We don't want any paddler/paddler or paddler/swimmer collisions.
Be at the start early. There will be a quick pre-race (morning) meeting for all paddlers about 15 minutes or so prior to the start of the race to go over last minute details.
And also have FUN!! Horsetooth is a nice lake to paddle in, and since you won't be going all that fast, you'll have plenty of time to look at the scenery as well as all those crazy swimmers!

10K Specific Paddler Rules/Info

Paddlers will NOT meet up with swimmers at the start. They will rendevous with their swimmer at the designated area approximately 1/2 mile from the start.
There will be one boat per swimmer. No swimmer will have more than one boat following them.
All paddlers and swimmers must attend the pre-race dinner to go over last minute course info, safety, and orientation.
Paddlers should ideally place themselves between the swimmer and any boat traffic. Especially when crossing any inlet stay nearer your swimmer than you would normally do. Boats will see you much more than the swimmer.
Be familiar with the course. You will be able to be more aware of where you are relative to the finish line than the swimmer. Especially be aware of what coves you are passing and do NOT enter any of them until at the finish line (at the dam).
Paddlers and swimmers should meet together to discuss strategy. This should include, but are not limited to:
- arranging for food/liquid, how to dispense. Several common methods are either a water bottle on a string that you can throw to the swimmer and then pull back, a mesh bag on a string that has food/liquid in it that the swimmer can get what they want out of and then you pull back, etc. The common theme being you aren't touching them and you aren't leaving litter in the lake.
- how often the swimmer wants to stop for food/liquid.
- where the swimmer would like the boat. The paddler can help out here by paddling a straight/constant course that the swimmer can then sight off of. This discussion should include both whether you should be on the swimmers right/left side, forward or backward of the swimmer as well as how far away (for example, I liked my paddler slightly forward to my right and about 8-10 feet away from me).
- Any particular body markings/ways of pinpointing one another at the sync point (colored arms/watches/ swimsuit/etc).
- discussion of any other strategy, concerns, etc.

Boat Decoration Rules

Adding decorations to your boat can be a fun thing to do, and for the 10K swimmers/paddlers can greatly aid your swimmer finding you.

The key rule on decorations is this:

All decorations should be lower than the paddlers heads.

This prevents the safety boats from thinking someone is waving a paddle around asking for help, when in reality it is just a decoration.

Things to consider bringing in your boat

Sunscreen
Hat
Sunglasses
Sweatshirt/sweat pants/fleece (or other warm clothing)
Raincoat
Food/water for yourself (in addition to the swimmer's)
If the weather is cold or wet, bring hot fluids to drink for yourself and for your swimmer
Whistle
Map (Provided by the race committee)
GPS
Cell phone (some service is available on the water)
Towel(s)