Extreme North Dakota Watersports Endurance Test (END-WET)

June 15 2024, Grand Forks, ND

Roster:

Click here for current roster

Race Summary:

The Extreme North Dakota Watersports Endurance Test (END-WET) is a down-river swim ultra-marathon (27 miles in 2012-13, 36 miles starting in 2014) where solo or relay swimmers will travel from rural ND into East Grand Forks, MN, on the mighty Red River of the North.  The longest swim race in North America!

Previous (and awesome) guest swimmers have been Evan Morrison, Karen Zemlin, Bridgette Hobart Janeczko, Daniel O'Kane, Elaine Howley, Jeff Utsch, Sarah Thomas, Annaleise Carr, Jen Schumacher, and Darren Miller. Email hello@endracing.com with your pick.

Click here if you are interested in volunteering. If you are local and want to paddle for a swimmer, go here and set your own rate.

Details: 

Date:  June 15 2024

Cap:  TBA 2024

Categories: 

  • Solo swim (traditional, FINA suit rules apply)
  • Solo swim (non-traditional - wetsuits are allowed)
  • Relay swim (doubles)
  • Relay swim (recreational, 3-5 team members)

Category must be declared when you check in before the race.

Location/Schedule:  Race start will be at Belmont Park, ND near Climax (MN) and finish in downtown Grand Forks, ND/East Grand Forks, MN. The night before the race we have a pre-race meeting for swimmers and paddlers, dinner, and presentation/talk by our guest swimmer.

Guest swimmer: We invite a swimmer every year to be our guest. We've picked people we think are ambassadors for the sport of open-water swimming in one way or another (sometimes by doing crazy things), but they've all been some of the nicest people we've ever met. Previous (and awesome) guest swimmers have been Evan Morrison, Karen Zemlin, Bridgette Hobart Janeczko, Daniel O'Kane, Elaine Howley, Jeff Utsch, Sarah Thomas, Annaleise Carr, Jen Schumacher, and Darren Miller.

Entry includes:  A great race, ENDracing swag (latex caps and cool water bottles), post race meal for swimmers and volunteers, and finisher tags for all solo swimmers. Overall winner will receive free entry into next year's race.

More Details: Course Book (updated periodically)

Big Change 2023 going forward: ENDracing will not be providing paddlers--please have your paddler identified before signing up.

Marathon Swimmers Forum 2023 thread <-- go here to look for a support paddler or a swimmer to support

Registration

Before Feb 1 Feb 1 - Apr 30 May 1-31*
Solo - Click here to register $220 $245 $275
Team of two - Click here to register $150 $150 $150
Team of 3-5 - Click here to register $50 per person $50 per person $50 per person

*Online registration closes 23:59:59 May 31. No race-day registration.
**New in 2023: All racers must bring their own support paddler(s). ENDracing can provide kayaks/paddles/PFDs by request.
Refund Policy

Past Winners:

  • 2023 - Michael Rice - 9:25
  • 2022 - Jamie Proffitt - 8:32 **New Course Record**
  • 2021 - Sarah Thomas - 13:04
  • 2020 - No race took place due to COVID-19
  • 2019 - Sandra Frimerman-Bergquist - 9:21
  • 2018 - Sandra Frimerman-Bergquist - 9:40
  • 2017 - Sandra Frimerman-Bergquist - 10:33
  • 2016 - Sandra Frimerman-Bergquist - 10:44
  • 2015 - Sarah Thomas - 9:43
  • 2014 - Kevin Kopplin - 8:38
  • 2013 - Karen Zemlin - 6:58 (27 miles)
  • 2012 - Darren Miller - 9:11 (27 miles)

Past Races:

Year Racers Results Photos Videos Race Reports Press
2023 Roster All Years        
2022 15 Solo All Years     Lauren, Emily Central Oregon Daily News
2021 18 solo All years     

AbbyLuke, Sarah, Marian, D'ArcyArlo

 
2020 Canceled - Covid          
2019 11 solo All years        
2018 18 solo, 1 relay team All years Wes   Diego, Mike (prerace), John, Jessica, Sam WDAZ 
2017 14 solo, 2 relay teams All years Wes   Arlo Main Street (listen; use << arrows to navigate to May 2017)
2016 28 solo All years Wes   Tara, Larry, Chris, tortuga Main Street, Dan Hammer Show, Laker & Pioneer
2015

27 solo
3 relay teams

All years Wes KVRR   OWS Daily News, Grand Forks Herald, Main Street, KVRR
2014 23 solo
1 relay team
All years PhotosPhoto slideshow   Tim, Leonard, Suzie Post and Courier
2013

25 solo
2 relay teams
8 solo paddlers
3 doubles paddlers

All years WesMolly Gr8 Outdoors pieceTara LisaJen  
2012 12 solo
3 teams
7 solo paddlers
4 doubles paddlers
All years Photos Studio One Racer Feedback, Leonard, Darren  
Additional information at http://openwaterpedia.com/index.php?title=END-WET.

Profits from this event--and all ENDracing events--will help support Ground Up Adventures, a 501(c)(3) non-profit based on North Dakota dedicated to helping kids get as much adventure as we wished we had growing up.