La Jolla Cove Swim Club’s Annual “BIG CHILL” Winter Swim Program
Last updated : December 11, 2024
Description
This is a La Jolla Cove Swim Club event, started in 2008, and is for CLUB MEMBERS ONLY. Swimmers track their open water miles from November 15th, 2024 – April 20, 2025. Swimmers’ miles are “pooled” together to reach a common goal. This year, participating swimmers will get to vote on our tropical destination.
This isn’t a serious competition. Have fun, and above all, swim safely and swim SMART! Beware, the Chill can Kill!
Individual goals: Reach personal totals of 25, 50, 100, 150, 200 miles (or even more!). SWIM FOR THE PATCHES!
Cost: FREE! (except for the party in May—party details will be sent out in April)
Registration
Registration for the event will be done differently this year. To register, simply click on the following link: Register for the Big Chill
You will be asked to provide:
- Name
- Big Chill name
- Email address
Once you have done this, your information will be added to a form so that you can easily log your miles. You will also be placed on an email distribution list so that we can send you any communications and updates regarding the Big Chill swim. We promise we will not sell your information! We are doing this to avoid sending out emails to non-Chill participants. Remember…you will need to register to receive Big Chill communications!!
You can sign up anytime until JANUARY 11, 2025. But please sign up as early as possible to enjoy the program with the others and to ensure you receive Big Chill communications. If you haven't signed up by then, you will need to plead your case with the Ice Queens, who may or may not let you register.
Reporting your miles
Reporting your miles will also be done differently this year. Big Chill Swimmers will simply click on the following link to update their miles: Log Big Chill Miles
Swimmers will select their name from a drop-down list. Report miles as a CUMULATIVE TOTAL. When in doubt, estimate as well as you can; we don’t need high accuracy, and we operate on the honor system.
- If you have not registered, your name will not appear on the drop-down list, and you will be unable to report your miles
- Update your miles anytime, preferably at least every other week
- Don’t hold back your miles. No more than 100 miles may be submitted in one month, unless you accumulated all the miles in that month. Requests for exceptions may be submitted to the program directors (“The Ice Queens”).
There will be maps and charts in the club display box at the Cove, at the La Jolla Athletic Club. Cumulative totals will be emailed to registered participants
Rules
Qualifying Miles:
- Accumulate miles you swim Friday, Nov. 15, 2024 through Sunday, April 20, 2025
- Miles swum using a wetsuit, rash guard, fins, mask and snorkel are acceptable
- Miles swum in the Pacific Ocean anywhere in California (Oceanside, Coronado, OC, LA, SF, etc.), are acceptable
- Miles swim in salt water or fresh water (lake, river, or other open fresh water) that is 65 degrees or less are acceptable
- Miles swum in salt water outside of San Diego are acceptable for up to 10 (separate or consecutive) days, regardless of the water temperature. This is to accommodate vacations in Hawaii, Mexico, Florida, the Caribbean, etc.
- Miles swum in a lake, river, or other open fresh water, in water above 65 degrees, are acceptable for up to 5 (separate or consecutive) days.
- Pool miles are NOT acceptable. Pool swimming isn’t ocean swimming... walls, lines, chlorine, hot water…GROSS!
- DOUBLE Miles may be claimed according to the schedule shown on the 'Double Miles' tab.. The organizers (hereafter known as the Ice Queens) may add double mile days to this list at their whim.
- Super Chill Bonus: If the ocean water temperature is 55.9 degrees or below, you may claim a 25% bonus on miles swum.
- Extreme Chill Bonus: If the ocean water temperature is 50.9 degrees or below, you may claim a 50% bonus on miles swum.
- Both Bonuses above may be used at other locations, such as Aquatic Park in SF, Seattle, Alaska, Antarctica….
- Sting Ray Bonus: If you get stung, take a five mile bonus for your pain, and you get a Sting Ray Survivor patch too.
- Turtle/Dolphin/Whale Bonus: If you see a turtle, dolphin or a whale while you’re swimming (not from land), get an extra mile per swim, up to 10 miles total for the program.
Pink Dolphin Birthday Swim:
- Miles must be swum wearing only one’s “Birthday Suit” for most of the swim
- If possible, the swim should be witnessed by at least one other swimmer. Observers do not get double miles
- The club does not encourage illegal acts
- If your birthday does not fall within the program dates, you may use a “comp” birthday, which should be on the same day of the month as your birthday and 6 months ahead if possible. For example, an August 6 “comp” birthday would be February 6. If your “comp” birthday is outside the program, pick any month within the program and swim on the same day of the month as your birthday
Rewards
- Personal satisfaction, good exercise, bragging rights, and the thrill of survival. Document your insanity for a disability claim
- Experience hypothermia on a regular basis. Shivering is a good exercise that involves all the major muscle groups
- Party to celebrate the end of the Chill
- Patches will be awarded to those who swim 25, 50, 100, 150 or 200 miles, and for the Pink Dolphin Swim
- Awards for the top mileage man and woman
- “Big Chill” hats or TBD
Misc
- Mr. Chill has moved on to colder pastures and is taking a well-deserved Arctic holiday. He is no longer managing the program. This year, the Big Chill is in the capable and cold hands of the frosty and very cool Ice Queens
- Questions about the event (rules, distances, anything else) should be sent to bigchillswim@gmail.com Note that this is a different email address than we have used in the past!