MEET HOST APPLICATION FOR SOUTHERN ZONE OPEN WATER SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Southeastern Local Swimming Committee wishes to bid for the 2018 Southern Zone Open Water
Swimming Championships.
/s Phil Kraus
_________________________________
Chairman, Local Swimming Committee
USA Swimming, Inc.
The organization that will be assigned the Championship is the:
NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
PHONE:
McCallie/GPS Aquatics
500 Dodds Ave
Chattanooga
TN
37404
(423) 493-5536
The organization President is:
NAME:
ADDRESS:
CITY:
STATE:
ZIP:
PHONE:
Roger Dahlke
500 Dodds Ave.
Chattanooga
TN
37404
(423) 987-7520 office
(423) 785-7946 cell
FACILITY INFORMATION
Please read the USAS Manual: Facility Standards, USA Swimming Rules and Regulations. Please be
certain you understand the requirements for hosting the meet (safety, water temperature
requirements, etc.).
If the organization is awarded these Championships, we propose to conduct the meet at the following
facilities.
SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS:
1. Name/address of site:
2018 Zone Open Water Championships
200 River Street, Chattanooga TN 37405
2. Type of body of water:
Tennessee River
3. Jurisdiction overseeing site: City of Chattanooga
4. Facility Administrator:
Stan Corcoran
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Phone:
500 Dodds Ave.
Chattanooga
TN
37404
(423) 785-7946
5. Temperature range for date: Water:
76 to 80 degrees
Air:
65 to 85 degrees
Combined: 150
Regularity of water tests:
6. Potential water hazards:
Hard to test with current, but has not been a problem with past races
Logs in water, but will check course before the race
7. Distance/time to closest hospital/Name of Hospital: 1.9 miles/6 minutes; Erlanger Hospital
8. Number of emergency vehicles on site during race:
1 Ambulance
9. Summarize/List Open Water experience of Meet Director, Referee, other officials:
Meet Director: Stan Corcoran. Stan has been the meet director for the past 11 years for the
Chattanooga Rat Race, a USMS sponsored event. The first 4 years, this event was also a USA Swimming
sponsored event. The race is held in the Tennessee River and attracts an average of 180 swimmers per
year.
In 2017, Chattanooga will host the 3-day USMS Open Water Festival. Two of the races at the festival will
be Open Water Championships. Stan Corcoran will be the race director of one of these races.
The City of Chattanooga has hosted three Ironman and two ½ Ironman championships in the past 3
years. These races have 2,500 competitors in them. The Chattanooga Sports Commission has been an
integral part of these races. They will be involved in all aspects of the Zone Championships from hotels,
food services, transportation and coordination of City resourses for this race.
Referee: Larry Alexander. Larry has been a USA Swimming referee for the past 25 years. He has been
the head referee for numerous events, including the Chattanooga Rat Race, a USMS open water swim,
for the past three years.
Other Officials: James Bevil – a certified USA Swimming official who has assisted Larry Alexander in the
past 2 Chattanooga Rat Race open water swims.
10. Briefly describe emergency response plan for:
Inclement weather: A portion of the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club is located on a part of the race
course on the Tennessee River. The Club has a state-of-the-art weather tracking system. The
organization will utilize this weather system to track the weather and determine the start of the race
and any delays/cancelations that may be necessary.
Missing swimmer:
Before the race, every swimmer will be numbered. They will be checked off a master list when they
enter and exit the water. We will have a video camera set up at the finish to video for placing and
swimmer recognition. If a swimmer gets out in the middle of the race, they will be taken to the finish
line and officially checked in.
We will have at least 20 kayaks, probably more, on the course. The swimmers will be within 50 yards of
shore at all times and kayaks will be on the outside of the swimmers to ensure no swimmer gets off
course or is in trouble. The swimmers will be between the kayakers and the shoreline. We will have 3
motor boats and 2 jet skis escorting the swimmers during the race.
11. Attach course layout, indicating start, finish, turns, and safety boats (including kayaks,
paddleboards, jet skis, etc.)
Course layouts are at the end of this document. We can accommodate for 1K, 3K and 5K races with both
layouts. We would prefer to do the loop course, due to better spectator and team viewing during the
race.
The kayakers will start with the lead swimmers and keep swimmers in sight as the race progresses. We
will have kayaks about 40 yards apart as they follow the swimmers.
12. Plan for timing system:
Scenic City Multisport will handle all timing needs. They have provided timing for numerous open water
races over the past 3 years, as well as triathlons and marathons.
13. Describe visibility of race for spectators:
There are three bridges providing visibility for the last 1,000 yards of the race. One of these bridges is
the historic Walnut Street Bridge, the world’s longest pedestrian bridge. There is also a shoreline to
watch from.
14. Resting Area:
Is it convenient?
Is it shaded?
How large?
Yes, immediately at finish area
Yes
350 people – there is an indoor pavilion for 150 people and we will erect tents
for 200 people
How far from the rest area to the venue? The rest area is 400 yards from the finish line.
15. Will the facilities be available to the swimmers only on a full-time basis during the meet?
Swimmers will be able to warm-up 30 minutes prior to the race start and 20 minutes after the finish of
all races in the Tennessee River. A 50-meter outdoor pool and 25-yard, 11-lane indoor pool is available
for warm up prior to the race and after the finish of the race. They are located 7 and 12 minutes from
the race start, respectively.
16. Do you have any policies that would restrict USA sponsorship obligations? No
29. Per USA Swimming Rules and Regulations NO NOISE MAKERS WILL BE ALLOWED AT MEET.
30. Will meet marshals be available throughout the meet? Yes
OTHER INFORMATION:
1. Hotel Headquarters:
Name:
Address:
City/St/Zip:
Phone:
Manager's Name:
Number of rooms:
Distance to race start:
Room rates:
Chattanooga Marriott Downtown
Two Carter Plaza
Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 756-0002
Tom Underwood
343
5 minutes / 2 miles
$129 to $209 / 1 to 4 person occupancy
Describe facilities, including the restaurants and hours of operation:
Connected to the Chattanooga Convention Center, this relaxed, downtown hotel is 1 mile from the
Tennessee Riverwalk. Lookout Mountain Incline Railway, featuring views and trails, is a 2.8-mile drive.
Modern rooms feature free WiFi, flat-screen TVs, desks and coffeemakers. Upgraded rooms add sofas,
minifridges and microwaves. Club rooms include access to a mountain-view lounge with complimentary
breakfast, snacks and drinks.
Dining options include a contemporary American grill restaurant (Terrace Grill – open 6:30 a.m. to 11
p.m., 7 days a week), as well as a sports bar and a cafe. There's also a gym, indoor and seasonal outdoor
pools, a business center and 10 meeting rooms.
2. Other Hotels:
Please attach a list of other hotels with the following information: see below
Name: _____________________________________Number of rooms: _________________
Room rates: Single _____ Double _____ Quad _____ Driving time to pool: __________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Contact Name: ______________________________ Phone:_(____)____________________
Additional Hotels
Hotel Name/Address*
Chattanooga Choo Choo,
1400 Market Street
Days Inn Rivergate,
901 Carter Street
Hampton Inn & Suites,
400 Chestnut Street
Hilton Garden Inn,
311 Chestnut Street
135
Room Rates
$109 - $229
Drive Time
6 min.
108
$79 - $119
134
96
Rooms
Contact Name
Adam Kinsey
Phone
(423) 266-5000
5 min.
Melia Rotherburg
(423) 266-7331
$169 - $299
5 min.
Scott Shephard
(423) 693-0500
$139 - $299
4 min.
Andrea Anderson
(423) 308-9000
*All are Chattanooga, TN 37402
3. Please indicate the number of restaurants in each category:
Fast food:
1-5 miles __8__ 6-10 miles __12 _ 11-20 miles __18__
Inexpensive: 1-5 miles _ 15__ 6-10 miles __25__ 11-20 miles __30__
Moderate:
1-5 miles __6__ 6-10 miles __8___ 11-20 miles __12__
4. Transportation To and From the City:
Airlines serving the city: Allegiant, American Eagle, Delta, United
Distance from airport to the race start: 15 miles (15 to 20 minute drive time)
Will there be free transportation from the hotels to the venue? There is a free electric shuttle that runs
daily which can take spectators from hotels to the race area.
How many rental vans are available at the airport? 33 (The Chattanooga Sports Committee can get
more if needed.)
Car rental companies serving the city: Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty
Is there a traffic problem getting to the site from housing? No
2018 Zone Open Water Course Maps
1K:
Start at GPS Boat Dock, finish at Market Street bridge.
60 meters upstream, right turn, 30 meters, right turn, 950 meters downstream (1040 meters total)
3K:
Start at GPS Boat Dock, finish at Market Street bridge.
970 meters upstream, right turn, 30 meters, right turn, 2000 meters downstream (3000 meters total)
5K:
Same concept as 3K. Start at GPS Boat Dock, finish at Market Street Bridge.
GPS Boat Dock, 970 meters upstream, right turn, 30 meters, right turn, 970 meters downstream, right
turn, 30 meters, 970 meters upstream, right turn, 30 meters, right turn, 2000 meters downstream. 5030
meters total.
Alternatively, could do all downstream swims.
3K:
5K:
Location of 5K Start (zoomed in):