Canada's largest and longest-running Across the Lake Swim will have more than 1,000 wetsuit-wearing athletes clambering onto Kelowna's shores on July 20. 

Participants will either complete the 2.1 km swim from the Old Ferry Docks in West Kelowna to Hot Sands Beach in City Park, Kelowna or the 1.5 km swim which begins just North of the William Bennett bridge at a Tsinstikeptum 10 park.

Competitive 2.1 km swimmers will set out at 7:50 a.m. in a mass start with general participants in both distances beginning at 8 a.m.

Age group swimmers are able to self-start whenever ready and their time begins as soon as they cross the timing mat and enter the water. 

Support paddlers will be following the event to help participants.

In addition to the Across the Lake event, there will be kids' shore splash races held at Hot Sands Beach. 

The Interior Savings Across The Lake Swim Kelowna began in 1949 and is the longest-running and largest annual open water event in Canada.

The Across the Lake Swim has been gaining popularity every year and has sold out yet again for the 2024 event. What once was a swim of just 400 participants just a few years ago is now an event that includes more than 1200 swimmers. 

For those interested in open water swimming, the organization Across The Lake Swims also holds a swim to Rattlesnake Island on August 3, a swim across Skaha Lake on August 11, a swim across Kalamalka Lake on August 17, and longer distance races across Okanagan Lake from Gellately Bay on August 31.

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