The Lavaman swim starts off with a beautiful 1500 meter (.9 Miles) Pacific Ocean swim that starts at Anaeho’omalu Bay at Waikoloa Beach. Water temperatures range from 77F to 80F with depths to 65 ft. The entire course is guarded by kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and rescue jet skis with sufficient water safety patrol.
RULES
- All swimmers including relays will self-seed themselves according to their anticipated swim time. Please look for volunteers holding signs.
- Swimmers may wear, but shall not be required to wear, swim goggles or face masks. Snorkels are no longer legal.
- Wetsuits – legal up to and including 78 degrees. Wetsuits may be worn between 78 and 84 degrees but participants will not be eligible for awards or prizes. No wetsuits allowed for water temperatures in excess of 84 degrees. For more detailed information and allowable wetsuits see USA Triathlon Rules https://www.teamusa.org/usa-triathlon/about/multisport/competitive-rules
- Illegal Equipment – Any swimmer wearing any artificial propulsion device, including but not limited to fins, gloves, paddles, or floating devices of any kind shall be disqualified. Snorkels are no longer legal and will result in disqualification.
- Bottom Contact and Resting – A participant may stand on the bottom or rest by holding an inanimate object such as a buoy, boat, rope or floating object. Excluding the bottom, a participant shall not use any inanimate object to gain forward progress. A violation of this section shall result in a variable time penalty, unless the Head Referee in his/her sole discretion determines that (i) the violation was substantial and resulted in an unfair time advantage.
- Emergencies… a swimmer experiencing difficulty and in need of assistance shall raise an arm overhead, and pump it up and down, and call or seek assistance. A swimmer, who has received official assistance, whether voluntary or involuntary, must retire and withdraw from the remainder of the race unless such assistance did not aid the swimmer in making forward progress. No swimmer shall return to the race if the official rendering assistance requests that the participant withdraw from the race or receive medical assistance.
- Swim cut off is 70 minutes from entering the water. The swim course will close 70 minutes after the last swimmer enters the water.
Upon exiting the water from the swim there is 500M run to the Transition area. This section is part sand, and concrete. There are water pools to rinse feet if desired.