Canada Day Challenge

This swim event has a capacity of 400 swimmers. Registration closes one full week in advance of the event date. This year registration closes on June 24, 2023 11:55 pm PDT.

Please ensure you are registered by this deadline. At each Canada Day Challenge there are people who believe they are registered when they are not. You can check the swimmers list at the very bottom of this page, or contact us.

There’s no late registration and no registration the day of the race. This is for safety reasons and so we have enough time to coordinate with Sportstat and get ready for each swimmer at the event.

For questions about the race please contact cdchallenge@vowsa.bc.ca.

This is the busiest day of the year for our friends at Belcarra Regional Park and Sasamat Lake. Parking will be limited. We therefore ask that you help ensure the ongoing success of this swim event by finding alternatives to driving alone, if possible.

VOWSA has booked a bus to the Canada Day Challenge. For $25 you can get a round trip from Vancouver to Sasamat Lake. We have 29 spots on the bus so secure yours today and don’t worry about the traffic or parking at Sasamat Lake. 

Vancouver pick up/drop off location: 1780 East Broadway (Parking lot of the Safeway)

Departing Vancouver: 6:30am sharp!

Departing Sasamat Lake/South White Pine Beach: 10:30am

Buy your ticket here:

Reserve a spot on TeamUp

If you can offer to drive others or are willing to be driven by a new friend, please reach out. To happily co-exist with the general public wanting to use the beach on Canada Day, we have been asked to park in lots C, D, and E – see attached map: White Pine Parking Lots. Parking attendants will be on hand to direct you to the correct lots.

Check in times

• 7:00 am — Check-in begins for 2 & 4 km
• 8:00 am — Check-in closes for 2 & 4 km
• 8:30 am — Check-in begins for 1 km
• 9:00 am — Check-in closes for 1 km

Failure to check-in during the appropriate check-in period will result in entry cancellation.

Race Start Times

• 8:30 am — 4 km MEN
• 8:35 am — 4 km WOMEN
• 8:45 am — 2 km MEN
• 8:50 am — 2 km WOMEN
• 9:30 am — 1 km WOMEN & MEN

Start times are approximate and may be delayed. There are no set cut-off times, however, discretionary cut-offs may be implemented by the Race Director and/or lifeguard team.

Wetsuits are not mandatory for this race event, but for safety reasons you must let us know at check-in if you plan to change from wetsuit to non-wetsuit, or vice versa. If you fail to inform us of a change of wetsuit category, you will be disqualified.

The water temperature at the lake will fluctuate and can range from 17 degrees C during the early summer to 24 degrees C during the later summer months.

Don’t have a wetsuit? Talk to Team Aquatic Supplies.

• White Pine Beach Weather Link
• White Pine Beach Water Quality Report

VOWSA reserves the right to reschedule or cancel events if water conditions are unsafe. VOWSA reserves the right to refuse entry based on safety or health concerns or previous violations of official rules.

• 2022 – Overall Results: 4km | 2km | 1km | Non wetsuit finisher results
• 2020 and 2021 – No races held due to the pandemic
• 2019 – Overall Results: 4km | 2km | 1km | Non wetsuit finisher results
• 2018 – 4km Wetsuit | 4km No Wetsuit | 2km Wetsuit | 2km No Wetsuit | 1km Wetsuit | 1km No Wetsuit
• 2017 – 4 km Wetsuit | 4 km No Wetsuit | 2 km Wetsuit | 2 km No Wetsuit | 1 km Wetsuit | 1 km No Wetsuit
• 2016 – 4 km Wetsuit | 4 km No Wetsuit | 2 km Wetsuit | 2 km No Wetsuit | 1 km
• 2015 – 4 km | 2 km | 1 km
• 2014 – 4 km | 2 km | 1 km
• 2013 – 4 km | 2 km | 1 km

Previous years’ results can be found on the SportStats website by searching for Canada Day Challenge.