Downhill Swim 24

A unique swimming experience in Kuusamo!

12 km (7,5 mi) or 24 km (15 mi) of swimming!

An open water swimming event where one advances 24 (15mi) in Oulankajoki, Finland.
Participants sign up and advance in pairs. The 24 km version includes short transitions on
foot.

Long distance: 24 km (15 mi)
Short distance 12 km (7,5 mi)

Number of participants

Downhill Swim 2024 is sold out. Waiting list -> send email: kalle.kotiranta@ironcoaching.fi

Registration fee

24 km 489 € / pair
12 km 389 € / pair

The Rules

§ 1. Requirements to participate
To take part in the Downhill Swim, you need to be able to swim and a minimum of 18 years old. Younger participants are accepted if they can provide written consent by a guardian and at the discretion of the jury. Every participant needs to have a valid insurance against accidents.

Registration is binding. Registration fees are not refunded. If the event has to be cancelled, participation can be deferred to the following year. If the participant does not want to defer, 75% of the registration fee will be refunded. Changing a team member is allowed. 

§ 2. The Course
The course is clearly marked, and the participants are to stay on the marked course. If a participant must deviate from the course, the other member of the team must ensure that the last rescue boat does not pass the team. There are multiple aid stations along the course, all stations are situated on dry land. The longer distance includes 4-5 mandatory checkpoints in connection with the aid stations. The shorter distance includes 2-3 mandatory checkpoints. All aid stations have first aid capability, as do all the service boats. All aid stations are equipped with food and hydration.

§ 3. Equipment
Swimmers must carry all their equipment from start to finish. All equipment, including nutrition and the likes, must be marked with the name of the particpant or the name of the team.
Mandatory equipment for each pair:
● At least one first aid pressure bandage packed in waterproof packaging
● A wetsuit suitable for the prevailing conditions and neoprene booties/protective footwear or appropriate shoes.
● If the water temperature is colder than 12 degrees celsius (53.6 F), the jury can mandate that a neoprene hoody and neoprene gloves must be worn.
● Every participant must have a whistle, 1 space blanket/team, and a functioning mobile phone/pair.
● Each pair must have at least one swim buoy (brightly colored), that is fixed to the swimmer with a line.
● The participants are to use the swim cap provided by the organizer throughout the entire duration of the course. An additional swim/neoprene cap is allowed, if it is worn under the provided swim cap.

Recommended equipment:

  • Neoprene hat (if the water is cold)
  • Swimrun rope

Prohibited equipment:

  • Snorkels
  • Flippers
  • Paddles
  • Pull Buoys


§ 4. Timing

Timing is carried out from the start line all the way through to the finish line. The team must pass checkpoints and cross the finish line together. There are several checkpoints along the way. The team must pass these checkpoints within the cut off times to be able to proceed in the event. The cut-off times will be announced at the latest, the day before the event.

§ 5. The responsibilities of the participants
All participants must respect all other participants, nature, event organization, spectators, and the people visiting and living on the event grounds. All participants are required to adhere to and know these rules and regulations. In the case of an emergency, all
participants are required to help, be it at their own initiative or if requested by another participant or the race organization.

Participants are allowed to train and familiraize themselves with the course before the event. However, they are to respect the inhabitants and the nature. The participants are to be aware of that the event is organized in a national park and within the area, the rules, restrictions, and regulations of a national park are to be followed.

Everyone takes part in the event at their own risk, the event organization does not take any responsibility for accidents that may happen during the event. The teams are obligied to help other teams that may have encountered an accident or need first aid. A team that abandons must inform the race organization as soon as possible. Participants are prohibited from leaving any trash in the nature, breaking this rule will result in disqualification.

§ 6. Rules
The event has a jury, which consists of the event director, and a minimum of two people that belong to the organization. The jury makes decisions regarding changes to the course, time and date, and rule changes. The decision of the jury is final.

Breaking the rules results in immediate disqualification. Even though the event is timed, the nature of the event is more experiential than that of a race, and therefore, situations like littering and destruction of nature can lead to disqualification.

Accepting outside assistance, i.e., from non-event organizing parties, is forbidden everywhere else except at the official aod stations. In matters regarding safety, outside help is allowed.

§ 7. Safety
The event organizer is to conduct a risk assessment and necessary action to minimize the risks associated with the event, in connection to the participants and staff. The event organization ensures that enough personnel is present along the course, with the right amount of safety equipment. The team must stay together from start to finish, and the distance between the team members is never to exceed 10 meters (ca 33 feet). If one of the team members finds themselves in a surprising situation, the other member is to ensure, that the last safety boat does not pass the team. The event organizer is allowed to prohibit a
team from continuing if the jury, first aid personnel, or any other member of the organization is of the opinion, that the team is too tired or physically in such a state that continuing would cause unnecessary harm. If the team must abandon the event, the team is to inform the closest member of the race organization as soon as possible.

The date of the event is Saturday July 20. The organization can, due to weather conditions, move the start of the event if the conditions are deemed unsafe to carry out a safe swim. The start time can be 24 hours earlier or later than announced.

§ 8. Imagery, marketing, and media rights
The participants grant the race organization the rights to use the photographs and video material produced during the race, free of charge in their marketing and media material, on the website and on their social media channels as deemed necessary. All teams will be photographed before the start and after reaching the finish line, this is for safety and marketing reasons.

§ 9. Approval of the rules
By participating in the event, every individual member of the team approves the rules of the event in their entirity.

§ 10. Image rights

The event organizer reserves the rights to all image material of the event. Unauthorized commercial use of footage will result in legal action. Participants can freely use the footage from the event on their own personal social media channels.