Austin, Texas is the site of several competitive and unique open water swimming events from the October 2nd American Swimming Association Open Water Swimming National Collegiate Championship to the five-day Tex Robertson Highland Lakes Challenge stage race on October 20th-24th.

The fall season starts off with the exciting American Swimming Association Open Water Swimming National Collegiate Championship this weekend.

Texas A&M University, Rice University and Trinity University are expected to go down to the wire for the women’s title at Mansfield Dam Park in Lake Travis for the 5K race. On the men’s side, two-time defending champion Andrew Battles and his Trinity University teammates with be aiming for their third consecutive individual and team titles.

“This is the first time we’ve participated in the [collegiate] open water nationals,” Texas A&M Aggie head coach Steve Bultman said. “It fit into our schedule this year, and I think it will be a benefit for our distance girls. Open water swimming is definitely different from racing in a pool. It’s something new and different for most of our team and it can be beneficial and fun for them.”

The American Swimming Association fills a large gap in the open water swimming ecosystem because the traditional governing body of collegiate aquatics does not offer open water swimming as a sport. On the international level, collegiate open water swimming is being introduced and promoted via the new 10K that was recently added to the World University Games.

The following week, the 7th Lake Travis Relay is held on October 9th. The 12-mile solo and relay event is the longest open water swim in the middle of the country and its timing on the annual calendar fills a gap appreciated by many marathon swimmers.

October is also the month of North America’s greatest stage race, the Tex Robertson Highland Lakes Challenge, a 5-day, 5-race event.

Stage 1 on Day 1 are the Lake Buchanan Open Water Swims (1 and 4 miles). Stage 2 on Day 2 are Tex’s Darn Challenge Open Water Swims (1 and 3.2 miles). Stage 3 on Day 3 are the Lake LBJ Open Water Swims (1 and 2 miles). Stage 4 on Day 4 are the Lake Marble Falls Open Water Swims (1 and 3 miles). Stage 5 on Day 4 are the Lake Travis Open Water Swims (1 and 3.6 miles). Swimmers can enter one, a few or all of the stages.

And finally the Austin, Texas fall season ends with the Dam 5K on November 6th. With nearly perfect weather and calm conditions in well-maintained lakes under the watchful eye of experienced race directors, c’mon and head on down.

Copyright © 2010 by World Open Water Swimming Association