END-WET, which stands for the Extreme North Dakota Watersports Endurance Test, is a 26-mile mixed-sports event where solo swimmers and relay swimmers pit themselves against other endurance athletes down the Red River between Grand Forks, North Dakota and Oslo, Minnesota.

Produced by the ENDracing, the July 21st event includes kayakers, surfskiers, stand-up paddle boarders as well as swimmers, in a unique extreme race.

Word on the river has it that Oceans Seven swimmer Darren Miller is the favorite among the solo swimmers. But certainly many eyes will be on Dan Projansky who is planning to swim the entire distance non-stop butterfly.

Categories in the race include two person open/coed in a canoe or two-person kayak, solo male/female in a kayak or surfski, solo male/female on a stand-up paddle board, relay swimmers (2-6 members) and solo swimmers.

Solo swimmers are required to provide their own support boat where non-motorized watercraft are preferred by ENDracing. Relay swims teams will also need to provide their own support boat/team dugout. Relay swimmers can swim in any order, but new swimmers must enter the water up-river of the retiring swimmer and before the retiring swimmer makes contact with the support boat. Swimmers are allowed to change out within 100 yards of any mile marker, so must swim, at minimum, one mile per rotation. River miles will be clearly marked on river right.

All profits from this charity event help support Ground UP adventures, a local North Dakota non-profit dedicated to bringing adventure to the region’s youth and larger communities.

Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source