Ironman 70.3 - Predictable Swim

Vineman 70.3

I was told there's no Branson this year (email from person working with Branson events, not RD since there isn't one currently). Really sucks, I loved that race.

My first (and only to date) HIM was Chelanman in Washington State. Entered after I got frozen/snowed out of my planned HIM at Pacific Crest near Bend in Oregon. It's a late July race in Central Washington; weather then is typically cool in the morning (but not cold), warm and dry in the afternoons. The swim is in a lake that is consistently wetsuit legal, but nothing painful--maybe low to mid 70's. I'm a cold water wimp and I was fine in a normal wetsuit; probably would have survived without it. The lake is perfectly clear/blue and swimmers can follow an orange underwater cable the whole way. The swim is basically a simple out and back. There was a little chop in one direction the year I did it due to a breeze that kicked up during the swim, but nothing dramatic and I think all that started finished without incident. One of the most pleasant, "predictable" swims I've done.

I could recommend another nice swim (Metaman on Bintan in Indonesia), which is a predictably flat blue-water tropical ocean swim, but that might be a rather long trip for you. Plus I wouldn't wish the heat for the bike/run course on anyone.

X2- Although I haven't done it, I did go up there last year and its a beautiful place and the town really gets behind the race

Check out the inaugural Princeton 70.3. It's a lake swim. Flat and fast bike and run. It's the same lake as the NJ State triathlon.

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Beach to Battleship. Not only is the swim apparently predictable but it is a great swim with a VERY helpful current.

Yep, Augusta would come to my mind. Down river swim. I believe it's dam controlled. Sep weather is fairly stable.

On the B2B suggestion, I would actually differ. While it is a current aided swim, it can still get choppy and a couple of years ago it wasn't timed well with the incoming tide and apparently is was really tough.

Muncie IN on July 12th.. Also hear good things about Rev 3 Cedar Point in OH

IM Monterrey is probably the most predictable.... it is basically a pool swim, in a man made river walk which looks more like a lazy river and is generally only 4-5 feet deep.

X2 princeton. ..... man made lake as calm as you can get

Thanks all, great recommendations to consider!

Princeton is full already, just checked.

Princeton is full already, just checked.