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Fifth Annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim Gearing Up to 'Go'

April 28, 2008 – On your mark, get set, go for the fifth annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim set to run May 25 starting at Maho Bay Beach. Swimmers are in the water at 8 a.m. A briefing starts at 7:30 a.m.
"It's a fun event and it's in the park," Friends of V.I. National Park Development Director Karen Brady said.
The Friends group holds the swim to raise money for its programs, including its summer learn-to-swim program.
Two practice swims will help swimmers get ready for the main event. The May 4 swim goes from Maho Bay Beach to Trunk Bay Beach. The May 18 swim starts at Maho Bay Beach and ends at Hawksnest Bay Beach. Both start at 8 a.m. There is no charge to participate in the practice swims.
The May 25 Beach-to-Beach Power Swim includes four simultaneous events. They are the one-mile short course solo swim from Maho Bay Beach to Cinnamon Beach, the 2.25-mile intermediate course solo swim from Maho Bay Beach to Trunk Beach, a 3.5-mile long course solo swim from Maho Bay Beach to Hawksnest Beach, and a 3.5-mile long course three-person relay team swim from Maho Bay Beach to Hawksnest Beach with transition points at Cinnamon Bay and Trunk Bay beaches.
The Beach-to-Beach Power Swim features the park's "incredible waters and beaches, two very special attributes of the park,” said Joe Kessler, Friends of the Park president and the race director.
"This event has become part of the list of challenging sporting events in the Virgin Islands," he said.
Awards will be given in age groups, with an awards ceremony at Oppenheimer Beach at noon. A barbecue at Oppenheimer Beach runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Beach-to-Beach Power Swim is for both competitive swimmers and "relatively serious" recreational swimmers. To make it as accessible and fun for as many participants as possible, swimmers may compete using snorkels, fins and exposure suits in a separate assisted-swimmer category.
Advance registration through May 9 costs $30. General registration on May 10 through 23 is $40. Late registration, available only at the pre-race meeting at 5 p.m. May 24 at Maho Bay Camps is $50.
Registration fees for those 17 and under are $15 through May 23 and $25 on May 24.
Swimmers can register either on-line at www.friendsvinp.org/swim, by phone at 779-4940 or in person at: the Friends of the Park Store in Mongoose Junction, Connections in either Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, or at Caribbean Surf Co. at Red Hook and Havensight locations on St. Thomas, or at SCUBA on St. Croix.
For more information about the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim, including the course description, course maps, and competition rules and to register visit www.friendsvinp.org/swim or call 779-4940.

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