Water Daze are here again

By Ali Bronsdon / Leader Staff

It's that time of year once again — dig out the goggles and bring the whole family down to Boettcher Park for the Sixth Annual Polson Bay's Water Daze one-mile swim and kids' fun swim.

This year, Mission Valley Aquatics teamed up with SAFE Harbor in Ronan to sponsor a new event — a three-mile boat race with categories for single and tandem canoes and kayaks.

According to MVA Project Coordinator Tana Seeley, last year's event drew in nearly 100 swimmers of all ages from early teens to Missoula's 83-year-old Evelyn King who completed the race in just under two hours.

"We get people from as far as Seattle, a lot of from Missoula and Kalispell, some from Bozeman, Helena and interest from Canada," Seeley said. "The first year, there weren't many local people, but that's starting to change a little more each year.

"Just having that banner hanging across the highway and having those radio ads really helps us a lot. People sitting at their homes can watch those little dots move across the lake — that helps spike local interest as well."

Each swimmer will get a brightly colored cap and a t-shirt as well as some other promotional gifts from the event's sponsors. Safety boats will keep an eye on swimmers as they take off from Salish Point and make their way to Boettcher Park. Florence's John Weston holds them mens' record of 21:07, which he set in 2004 when he was 48 years old. Jonette Sibson from Whitefish set the women's record of 25:39 last year at 38 years of age.

Any non-motorized boat can compete in the boat race, which is a triangle course from Boettcher Park, out and around a buoy, to the KwaTukNuk and back. Racers must supply their own boat, paddles and personal floatation device.

"SAFE Harbor wanted to be involved with a fun, family event and do something for the community that supports our mission statement of making every home in Lake County a safe home," said Katie Stevenson who is spearheading the boat race. "We are really encouraging it to be a family event, but it is open to every body."

Registration opens at 9 a.m. at Beottcher Park with the boat race starting at 11 a.m. A bus carrying the swimmers will leave Beottcher Park at 12:30 p.m. and the swim will start at 1 p.m.

Following the swim race is the Kids' Fun Swim, usually divided into two heats: one for smaller kids with life jackets, and another for the older kids that are able to swim a little bit further. Also for the kids, there will be a giant blow-up double water slide. The Lake County Health Department's Life Jacket Loaner Program will provide life jackets for any kid that needs one.

After the races, MVA and SAFE Harbor will treat participants and spectators to a barbecue in the park featuring give-a-ways, airbrush tattoos, raffles and music.

"Six years ago, we had just started MVA and we wanted to have an event that would bring awareness to what we are trying to do for the area," Seeley said. "This is a beautiful lake and we need to have more events on it."