Venue

The race location for 2023 is returning to Point Defiance Park in Tacoma, Washington at the newly renovated Owen Beach. The address for Owen Beach: 5605 N Owen Beach Rd, Tacoma, WA 98407.  The event will have check in and finish at Owen Beach.  For the start of the race there will be a short ferry ride from Pt. Defiance to Vashon Island and a then a short walk to the beach next to the ferry landing for the race start.  Water jugs will be provided for rinsing at finish on the concrete . There will be portable toilets near the beach finish area. There are also Metro Parks facilities at Owens Beach.

The swim is open to qualified registered swimmers as of August 06, 2023. Current USMS open water guidelines will be followed for this event. Neoprene wetsuits, swim safe buoy and race provided caps are required. 

Swim Defiance mandatory safety meeting will be held at 6:40AM the day of the race.

Event Site Plan
   
Race Info

The course will be a one way swim with Lifeguards, kayaks, Tacoma Police, Tacoma Fire, Pierce County Fire Water Rescue and Tacoma Maritime Institute and personal volunteer safety boats monitoring the entire course. Body marking required on hands. Competitors must wear the color-coded race caps. All swimmers required to use their own personal brightly colored safety buoy for the entire event. Buoys are available, for purchase, during registration.

Owens Beach Facilities

Change rooms, washrooms, no showers, concession stand, FREE parking lot. We do not always have a volunteer to watch your gear while you swim, so prepare to leave valuables in your vehicle or lock them with your bicycle on the beach.

Directions From Olympia:
Owen Beach in Pt. Defiance Park
  • I-5 North to exit 132 to SR-16 West toward Gig Harbor/Bremerton
  • Take exit 3 onto 6th Ave. toward Ruston/Pt. Defiance
  • Turn right onto N Pearl St.
  • At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto N Waterfront Dr.
  • Take a slight right turn onto Five Mile Rd/Drive. Follow signs to Owen Beach, there will be a right turn into a large parking lot going all the way down the hill to Owen Beach.
Directions From Seattle:
  • I-5 South to exit 132B to merge onto SR-16
  • Take exit 3 onto 6th Ave. toward Ruston/Pt. Defiance
  • Turn right onto N Pearl St.
  • At the roundabout, take the 2nd exit onto N Waterfront Dr.
  • Take a slight right turn onto Five Mile Rd/Drive. Follow signs to Owen Beach, there will be a right turn into a large parking lot going all the way down the hill to Owen Beach.