Southampton Village Ocean Rescue will be hosting their second annual S-Mile Swim Challenge at Coopers Beach in Southampton on Saturday, August 19th at 7:00 a.m.
Swimmers participating in the challenge have a few options for the event. They can swim 1 mile, .5 mile, or .25 mile. Unlike last summer, the second annual challenge will be utilizing EliteFeats to time the event. Chief of SVOR, Alex King, said, “Last summer, many swimmers expressed their interest in knowing their times, some want a more competitive edge and striving for the win, while others want the challenge of pushing themselves to achieve their personal best, and some simply want to reach their goal of completing their chosen distance. We respect each individual’s objective and are thrilled to be able to enhance the overall experience for the participants.”
For the challenge, there will be the option for swimmers of whether or not they want to be timed or to swim at their own leisurely pace. Trophies will also be awarded for the first-place men’s and women’s divisions of each distance, and medals will be given out for second and third place. All participants will receive their S-Mile Swim shirt for being part of the event.
Another great addition to the second annual challenge is that of the Special Needs Swim, which will take place following the S-Mile Swim, and will begin at 9:00 a.m. Chief Alex says, “We deeply understand the significance of inclusivity in our events. SVOR is a volunteer first responder organization. Many of our members also volunteer to provide swimming, sailing, surfing, and/or other water-related activities to children and adults with special needs.” She went on to explain, “We are acutely aware of the considerable number of people residing in Southampton with unique needs, and we recognize the scarcity of events and functions tailored to meet their needs. Witnessing the smiles on their faces as they learn to enjoy the ocean is our emotional paycheck.”
The entire S-Mile Swim event will be lifeguarded by SVOR, and the Special Needs Swim will be lifeguard assisted.
Proceeds for the event will be raised for SVOR’s essential services. They are a volunteer first-responder organization that coordinates with several emergency agencies for any aquatic emergencies. Chief Alex King says, “SVOR is dedicated to making expeditious and safe water rescues year-round at all unprotected beaches in and around Southampton Village.” All their rescuers are ocean lifeguard- and CPR-certified, and they recognize that preventative lifeguard training is a key component to saving lives.
In addition to the lifeguard training program run by SVOR, this summer they formalized the adult ocean swim clinic. Alex says, “[This clinic] has proven to be very successful in drastically improving swim techniques. We hope our graduates will show off their newly acquired skills during the S-Mile Swim. We also encourage anyone who wishes to improve their ocean swimming to contact us. We would love to put more adult swim dates on the calendar this summer, and we will keep you informed for next summer. There is no charge for these classes!”
Every program, event, and fundraiser that Southampton Village Ocean Rescue holds is to work toward their ultimate goal of waterproofing Southampton. Alex says, “SVOR is primarily funded by the Village of Southampton and raises additional funds through Southampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue, Inc. We protect the unguarded beaches in Southampton, certified ocean lifeguards are on-call 24/7 year-round. SVOR also lifeguards numerous Hamptons water events and promotes water safety in the schools.”
The S-Mile Swim will aim to bring the community together, whether as a participant or spectator, in support of local emergency responders. Southampton Village Ocean Rescue can’t wait to see everyone in the water for this highly anticipated event!
For more information, or to register for the S-Mile Swim Challenge of Special Needs Swim at Coopers Beach on Saturday, August 19th, visit SVOR.org.
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