Courtesy of Phil White, Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association, Vermont.

“The ice watch has begun in earnest on Lake Memphremagog as snow begins to accumulate on nearby Jay Peak and Burke Mountain,” reported Phil White of the Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association.

The Memphremagog Winter Swimming Society is diligently going forward in its planning of their Third Annual Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival on March 3rd, 4th, and 5th 2017.

As in previous years, the Society will cut a 25 meter, two-lane pool in the ice on Lake Memphremagog by the EastSide Restaurant. We will offer 25, 50, 100, and 200 meter swims, led off by the 25-meter breaststroke race and a hat competition. “Barr Hill Vodka shooters will be offered at the end of each day by Caledonia Spirits with a Seafood Buffet Saturday night at the EastSide and a Welcome Dinner at the Ciderhouse Bar & Grill on Friday night before the swimming begins,” says White.

Swimmers from around the globe (including 54-year-old Richard Born, 26-year-old Devon Clifford, 54-year-old Martha Wood, 44-year-old Nadine Bennett, 42-year-old Ozlen Luznar, 47-year-old Rena Demeo, 40-year-old Yasmin Elnaccash, 47-year-old Amanda Hunt, 48-year-old Mindy Bowens, 49-year-old Talbott Crowell, 27-year-old Daina Bouquin, 50-year-old Charlotte Brynn, 53-year-old Janet Manning, 38-year-old Jerome Leslie, 54-year-old Theo Schmeeckle, 57-year-old Scott Zornig, 31-year-old Kellie Latimer, 44-year-old Tiffany McQueen, 58-year-old Greg O’Connor, and 32-year-old Helen Lin) have already started to sign up with many more expected before registration closes on February 15th. Online registration is open at www.kingdomgames.co.





Upper photo shows Kellie Latimer in the 2015 hat competition. Lower photo by Phil White at the 2nd annual Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival in Lake Memphremagog, Vermont in 31.5ºF (-0.2ºC) water.

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