Competitive swimmers from across the country will descend upon Lee County this weekend for the 17th annual Open Water Festival at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club.
Lee County, the Gulf Coast Swim Team and Miromar Development Corp. are co-hosting the annual competition, which will draw more than 300 swimmers from across the U.S, Canada and Israel. Among the elite participants are Olympians Haley Anderson and Brooke Bennett.
The entire April 13-15 festival is open to spectators and takes place behind the Miromar Lakes Beach Clubhouse, 10160 Miromar Lakes Blvd. in Miromar Lakes. Admission and parking are free.
Lee County estimates the three-day event will generate approximately 1,000 room nights in area hotels and contribute $450,000 in direct spending to the local economy.
Miromar Lakes was first identified by USA Swimming in 2007 to host the Championship Trials due to its ideal climate and lake conditions that parallel the open water settings at Olympic competitions. Races are held on Lake Como, Miromar’s 700-acre freshwater lake ringed with three miles of private white sand beach.
Schedule of events:
- Friday, April 13: Florida Open Water Clinic (starts at 3 p.m.)
- Saturday, April 14: Crippen Cup 10K Race (starts at 9 a.m.), Team Pursuits and Relays (noon to 2:30 p.m.), 10-and-Under Buddy Swim (starts at 6:15 p.m.) and Crippen Sunset Mile (starts at 6:45 p.m.)
- Sunday, April 15: Florida Open Water Championships, Local Swim Committee All-Star Team Challenge and Open Water Festival Race (events run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Sponsors for the Open Water Festival include Costco, Gulf Coast Swim Team, Lee County Sports Development, Mack’s Earplugs, Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, Team Unify, Total Team Wares, TriSlide, TriSwim and USA Swimming. Partners also include Bellyak, Gatorade, Mario’s Meat Market & Deli, Speedo, The News-Press, Tijuana Flats, USA Masters Swimming, Vasa and Walmart.
For more information, please visit OpenWaterFestival.org.
About Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club
Inspired by the Italian and French Rivieras, Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club is the #1 Community in the USA, receiving the prestigious Gold Award for Best Community from the National Association of Home Builders. It is the only Florida community in history to win this top honor. The Beach Clubhouse at Miromar Lakes also received the Gold Award from the NAHB for the Best Clubhouse in the United States. No other community has ever won both awards.
Recognized with more than 180 national, regional and local awards, Miromar Lakes offers three miles of private white-sand beach and a 700-acre freshwater lake for swimming, boating, waterskiing, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing. The community’s dynamic social scene is enhanced by a full calendar of events and five-star amenities including three restaurants, a European-style wellness spa with full-service beauty salon, state-of-the-art fitness center, 10,000-square-foot zero-edge infinity pool, seven Har-Tru tennis courts, two marinas, and bocce courts. Miromar Lakes Golf Club features a recently remastered golf experience on Southwest Florida’s only Arthur Hills Signature championship course, recognized as a Golfweek Best Residential Course of Distinction.
The Miromar Lakes Concierge Services team enhances residents’ lifestyle by arranging housekeeping and home inspection services, grocery shopping, pet care, airport transportation and much more.
Miromar Lakes offers single-family luxury homes in several intimate neighborhoods. New construction waterfront and golf villas, estate and grand estate homes are priced starting from the $1 millions to over $7 million.
Boating, beaches, championship golf and world-class amenities are all within one luxurious setting at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club.
For further information, visit the Miromar Lakes Sales Gallery at 10160 Miromar Lakes Blvd., Miromar Lakes, Florida, just north of Naples; call (239) 425-2340 or (877) 809-9444; or visit MiromarLakes.com.
About Lee County Sports Development
Lee County Sports Development was created in 2003 to meet the growing demand for sports development in Lee County and is recognized by the Florida Sports Foundation as one of the state’s 25 Regional Sports Commissions. The Lee County Sports Development office leads the recruitment and implementation of amateur and professional sports events and activities in Lee County, with the goal of providing economic impact to Lee County. Through local partnerships with Lee County Parks & Recreation and others, the Lee County Sports Development office provides services designed to address the needs of local, national and international sports entities including housing, access to venues, event management, transportation assistance, event promotion, marketing and local sponsorship opportunities. For more information, call 239-533-5273 or visit www.leegov.com/sports.
