x15th Annual Tallchief Open Water Challenge 
DISTANCES:
¼ mile, ½ mile, 1 mile, 2 mile, and 3 mile* swim
(*3 mile entrants must complete the 2 mile course in 1 hr 10 mins or faster)
DATE/TIME: Sunday September 17, 2023, 9 am CDT
LOCATION: Tallchief Lake, Zink Ranch, northwest of Sand Springs, Oklahoma
SPONSORED BY: Jenks Community Education and Tulsa Masters Swim Club
EVENT HOST: Tulsa Masters Swim Club (TMSC)
EVENT DIRECTOR: Leslie Moon, swimtallchief@gmail.com
SAFETY OFFICER: TBD
SCHEDULE:
7:15 - 8:15 am: Check in. ALL swimmers are required to check in at the registration table.
8:15 - 8:45 am: Warm up 8:15 to 8:45 am. Lifeguards must be present in boats before swimmers can enter the water.
8:50 am: Mandatory pre-race safety briefing on the beach, just prior to the start of the first wave of swimmers.
9:00 am: Start of the 1/4 mile swim
~ 9:10 am: Start of 1 mile, 2 mile and 3 mile swims. (will start as soon as the 1/4 mile swim is complete.)
~ 9:15 am: Start of 1/2 mile swim
9:30 - 12:30 pm: post race breakfast and awards - Tallchief Lodge
VENUE: Tallchief Lake is a private lake on the Zink Ranch property. There will be no outside boat traffic. Expected water temperature greater than 80 degrees.
ELIGIBILITY: Open to swimmers age 9 and above.
PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES SHOULD BE PROFICIENT SWIMMERS and CAPABLE OF SWIMMING IN A DEEP, OPEN WATER LAKE.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION: ONLINE ENTRIES ONLY. NO RACE DAY ENTRIES ACCEPTED.
Entries will close at 11:59 pm CDT Sunday, September 10, 2023. Enter by August 1st to guarantee your t-shirt size.
Event is limited to 165 swimmers.
ENTRY FEE: $43
Entry fee includes a swim cap, t-shirt, finisher medal, and post event breakfast.
Please note: credit cards will be charged by “TALLCHIEF SWIM"
About REFUNDS: Due to the associated cost and effort required to stage this event, no refunds will be issued. This includes, but is not limited to, life situations precluding a pre-paid entrant from starting the event; unforeseeable acts of nature such as thunderstorms; or an unsafe environment resulting in the cancellation of the event. There is no rain date.
PARKING: There is plenty of free parking available at the Tallchief Lodge. Please note, you will walk approximately 1/4 mile downhill to the water front. Wear sturdy shoes and allow yourself plenty of time!
COURSE: The swim course is an out and back, clock-wise course (buoys on your right) marked by large regatta buoys.
- The 1/4 mile swimmers will swim out 1/8 mile and return to the finish.
- The 1/2 mile swimmers will swim out 1/4 mile and return to the finish.
- The 1 mile swimmers will swim one lap of the entire course.
- The 2 mile swimmers will swim two laps of the entire course.
- The 3 mile swimmers will swim three laps of the entire course.
This is a "chip- timed" event provided by Nexus Timing.
SAFETY: Swimmers are required to attend the pre-race safety briefing at 8:50 am at the water front.
- Swimmers must wear the swim cap provided in the color that designates the event entered. Please notify the event director prior to race day if you have a latex allergy that prevents you from wearing the provided cap.
- The swim course will be monitored by persons in kayaks and canoes. A rescuer will be stationed in a power boat monitoring the course in the event an evacuation is necessary.
- A head count by race number of all swimmers entering the water will occur at the start of each wave of swimmers.
SWIMMERS WHO DROP OUT OF THE RACE AFTER A POSITIVE CHECK IN ARE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY AN OFFICIAL AT THE FINISH LINE!!
You will also need to turn in your timing chip and ankle strap to that official.
- The three-mile swimmers must complete the two-mile course in 1 hr 10 mins or less before starting their third lap.
- A First Aid tent will be located at the water front.
- Water and Gatorade will be available to participants near the finish line. This also serves as an aid station for swimmers doing multiple laps.
WET SUITS: Wetsuits are not allowed due to the anticipated water temperature being well above 80 degrees. Please do not enter this event if you do not think you can complete the swim without a wetsuit.
OTHER EQUIPMENT: While this event is not sanctioned by U.S. Masters Swimming, USA Swimming, or USA Triathlon, it is a swim competition. Swim aids, including, but not limited to, fins, paddles, pull buoys, snorkels, kick boards, etc. are not allowed. A swimmer may tow a personal safety float, such as the ISHOF or Kiefer SaferSwimmer, or New Wave swim buoy.
T-SHIRTS: A one-of-a-kind t-shirt designed by Tulsa Masters member, Jocelyn Wood, is included with your entry fee. Additional t-shirts may be available for purchase at the event for $15. Enter by August 1st to guarantee your shirt size.
AWARDS: All participants will receive a finisher medal at the completion of their swim. Awards will be given to top swimmers in each event.
Note: Awards for the 1/4 mile swim will only be given to those swimmers ages 10 and under. Swimmers over 10 years old may enter the 1/4 mile but are not eligible for an award. AWARDS WILL NOT BE MAILED!
RESULTS: A link to the final results will be posted on www.okswim.org and www.onlineraceresults.com as soon as possible.
SOCIAL: POST RACE BREAKFAST FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS
- Spectators can purchase breakfast during online registration or at the registration table on race day for $5/person.
REMINDERS and OTHER NOTES:
- Participants/spectators/volunteers are only authorized to use the facilities and property within the Tallchief Lake/Facility boundaries.
PLEASE... NO RUNNING, JOGGING, RIDING BIKES, WALKING, HIKING, etc on the roads or trails on the ZINK RANCH PROPERTY
- PLEASE... OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS WHILE ON THE ZINK RANCH ROADS. STRICTLY ENFORCED BY THE RANCH FOREMAN!!! Allow PLENTY of time to arrive, check in, and get to the swim start. It takes longer than you think it will to drive the 4.5 miles to the site of the swim.
- There is some walking involved from the parking lot to the water front. Bring sturdy shoes for walking approximately 1/4 mile down hill on a gravel road to the waterfront.
- There is limited spectator space on the peninsula near the start/finish line. Bring your lawn chairs, sunscreen and bug spray.
- Participants will have an area near the start/finish line to leave their personal belongings while they swim.
- Showers will be available following the event in the Tallchief Lodge.
- Please make arrangements to have your children supervised while you are swimming
- ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING! NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES! NO PETS!
DIRECTIONS to Zink Ranch and Tallchief Lake
Zink Ranch is located approximately 9.7 miles northwest of Sand Springs at the termination of Hwy. 97 and the intersection of Rock School Road.
You will cross a cattle guard at entrance and see the Rock Fire Dept on your left
Continue on to the electronic gate entrance to Zink Ranch. Volunteers will direct you through the gate toward the site of the swim. Follow the "Tallchief" signs. Tallchief Lake is located another 4.5 miles from the entrance of Zink Ranch.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
From Tulsa or points east of Tulsa using I-244 West: (you do not have to go all the way to Sand Springs)
Exit 5c LL Tisdale,
North ~ 2.6 mi to Gilcrease Expressway (1st stop light), turn left (west)
West ~ 2.3 mi to stop sign at 41st W. Ave, turn right (north)
North ~ 5.4 mi to ROCK SCHOOL Rd, turn left (west),
(you will see a blue 'Zink Ranch' sign just before this intersection)
West ~ 4.1 miles to intersection of Hwy 97 and entrance to Zink Ranch
Turn right into Zink Ranch
From south Tulsa using Hwy 75 North:
Exit 5c LL Tisdale, (exit will be on the left as you merge with I-244 East)
North ~ 2.6 mi to Gilcrease Expressway (1st stop light), turn left (west)
West ~ 2.3 mi to stop sign at 41st W. Ave, turn right (north)
North ~ 5.4 mi to ROCK SCHOOL Rd, turn left (west),
(you will see a blue 'Zink Ranch' sign just before this intersection)
West ~ 4.1 miles to intersection of Hwy 97 and entrance to Zink Ranch
Turn right into Zink Ranch
From Enid/Stillwater (points west of Tulsa via Hwy 64/ 412):
Hwy. 64/ 412 (Cimmaron Turnpike) EAST to 129th West Ave. exit.
Turn Left at the top of the exit to cross over HWY 64/412.
Continue North on Hwy 97, approximately 9.7 miles to the entrance of Zink Ranch.
(The road dead ends at the intersection of Hwy. 97 & Rock School Road)
Continue driving straight ahead
You will cross a cattle guard at the entrance and see the Rock Fire Dept on your left.
From OKC via Turner Turnpike, I-44:
Exit 215, Hwy 97N Sand Springs, go north on HWY 97 approximately 8 miles
Go WEST on HWY 64/412 (Keystone Expressway) toward Stillwater/Enid.
Exit on 129th West Ave.
(You will see a green ZINK RANCH sign just before the exit.)
At the top of the exit, turn left, then right (North) onto Hwy. 97
(The arrow on the sign at the intersection points north to Skiatook, no mention of Zink Ranch)
Drive approximately 9.7 miles north on Hwy. 97 to entrance of Zink Ranch.
(The road dead ends at the intersection of Hwy. 97 & Rock School Road)
Continue driving straight ahead
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENTRY!!
