About US

Open Water Chicago

Open Water Chicago™  is a physical and virtual community of outdoor swimming, fitness, and endurance sports enthusiasts.  Here in Chicago, we are known as the “Lake Monsters.”

Founded in 2007 by Steve Hernan, our mission is to provide you with the best information and opportunities you need to optimize your fitness and to fully experience the joy and adventure of being in the elements.

Our Swim Meetups

We meet semi-regularly on the weekends – Saturday or Sunday morning at sunrise – out at Ladder 1 (L1), the bright orange safety ladder located right off of the Chess Pavilion south of the North Avenue Beach boathouse:

How to Get Involved

New to OWC or to this page? Here are the basics on how you can get involved with the group:

1) Sign the swim waiver or you don’t swim with OWC. Period.

2) You must be 18 or older to participate in our meetups.

3) There are no lockers at the L1 swim site. Please plan accordingly.

4) If there is an OWC meetup on the weekend, I will post the details on the OWC Facebook page and on the OWC website by Friday. If it’s not posted by that time, then assume there is no meetup.

5) If there is no scheduled OWC meetup, you can always go to Ohio Street Beach during the summer months. It’s the official open water swim venue in Chicago, and all the local training groups congregate there. [Note – for winter swimming (November – March) please contact OWC directly as specific meetup dates/times will not be posted]

6) Support OWC – Unlike the rapacious multisports industrial complex, we don’t charge you anything to swim with us. So click here to donate to us!

172 Replies to “About US

  1. Hi Everybody, are there any planned swim meetups scheduled this holiday weekend? I am looking to get some cold water swimming in before Alcatraz Tri, looks like you usually meet up sunrise? Thanks!

  2. Hi! I’m thinking about joining you for the first time tomorrow morning, but all I have is a sleeveless wetsuit. I know the conditions can change quickly, but is it too early in the year to get out there without a full suit?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi JJ. We have people swimming now in just a cap and swim jammers, so I don’t think it’s too early to go without a full suit. But everyone has a different cold tolerance. I’d say try it out. You can always cut the swim short if you’re uncomfortable.

  3. Will be visiting May 28,29,30. Will you be swimming on Sat, Sun or Monday, and what time. Should I bring wetsuit, I am a open water swimmer from Richmond Va. Have done the Bay bridge swim several times and the Virginia to Maryland swim.

    1. Yes, we will be out there at least two of the three mornings around sunrise. Definitely bring your wetsuit as the lake temperature can change overnight.

  4. What time does the ladder 1 swim start on Sat and Sun? I’m visiting from SF and would like to join the swim.

    1. Hi Jeff. We’re usually out there at sunrise or shortly thereafter, which is around 6am this time of year. Keep checking the twitter stream at the left side bar on home page. I post the details later in the week there and on the Facebook page as well.

  5. My sister and I are interested in participating in the Swim Across America on 7/23, and potentially, Big Shoulder in Septmeber. I was doing some research on the internet and came across OWC and the team you have formed (Team Carol) for SAA. My sister and I have never swam with you all, but we are interested in becoming Lake Monsters as well as being part of Team Carol.

    We are thinking of doing the 3 mile option. We haven’t done open water swimming since 2008, but we trained quite a bit that year in Lake Michigan for Ironman Wisconsin. We would love to meet up with you all on Saturdays beginning in the next month or so.

    In the meantime, please let me know if it would be alright to join Team Carol. She seemed like a really neat lady, and I’m sorry to hear about her passing.

    Thanks!

    1. Hi Kirstin. Thanks for writing! We would love to have you all join Team Carol – and many thanks for offering to do so! All you need to do is go to the following link and click on “Join Team:”

      http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/Chicago?pg=team&fr_id=1180&team_id=1174

      We’re encouraging anyone to join the team and contribute to whatever level they’re comfortable with. Separately, please feel free to come out for our weekend swim meetups whenever you get a chance. The next one is for this Saturday (May 14) at 6am. I’ll be there a bit earlier before to catch the sunrise and look forward to meeting you if you can make it that morning!

      Best,

      Steve

  6. I just found your site courtesy of the Pace of Chicago. This looks like a cool group – I’ll be keeping an eye on your upcoming meetups and see if I can join sometime!

  7. Steve, re Crater Lake … feel free to contact me regarding cold water swimming in Oregon … i’m in the lakes here year round … Mike

  8. Steve,

    rumor has it you are on film doing a 1 1/2 into the frigid waters of Crater Lake. Are you going to post that?

    Luke

    1. Alas, we never took at video of that – only a clip of me jumping in feet first. This just means I will have to come back and do it again!

  9. Hi Guys,

    My name is David Wallach, I am the endurance sports reporter for the Chicago Tribune and the column The Pace of Chicago http://www.chicagonow.com/pace.

    I was just introduced to your site and love it! I was hoping to feature your trailer for my post on Wednesday and possibly come out, take some pictures and swim with you, a little later:)

    If it’s cool to show your trailer, let me know.

    Keep up the great work and be safe

    David Wallach

    1. Hi David. Sure, feel free to post the trailer. Actually, Arthur Swidzinski and Dan Mott produced it, and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind. I just copied the embed code into the blog post and it works like a charm. And feel free to come on out anytime!

  10. Newbie here, just got into swimming this winter at my health club and am training for my first triathlon in June. I have never done any open water swimming and I am desperate for advice and swim buddies to go with. The schedule I am following would have my open water swims on Wednesdays preferably in the morning is there anyone out there who can help? Much appreciated.

  11. I am from Indiana but would like to start doing swims with you a couple times a month on weekends. Will this Sunday meet up be beginner friendly? I have a wet suit and have swam open water just never Lake Michigan.

    1. Hi Kevin. All of are swims are beginner friendly. We get people with various backgrounds and skill levels at each meetup, so feel free to just come out any time!

  12. Hi John. The water temperatures can vary (and can quickly lower overnight), but it generally starts getting above 50F in late April or early May.

  13. I was a competitive swimmer in high school and recently completed my first olympic distance tri. I’m getting excited about doing some more open water swimming this year (I need to practice swimming straight).

    Can you give me some sort of general timeline/ forecast for water temperatures? I probably wont buy a hood, gloves or boots, just a wetsuit (still deciding full or sleeveless). When does water temp generally get high enough to swim like this? Say 50-55F or so?

    Thanks!

  14. I got the chance to meet Steve at a New Media in Chicago event awhile back, and I was very intrigued by the work OWC does. It has inspired myself and another filmaker to want to do a mini documentary about Steve and the OWC team, to share some stories about some of their past experiences. Please let me know if you are interested in doing this! I would love the chance to make this film.

    1. Hi Dan. Thanks for reaching out to us! This looks pretty cool And we’re always looking to help out anyone on a project like this. Send me an email at srhernan[at]gmail[dot]com and we can figure something out. Best, Steve

  15. Hi Steve,
    I have been following your blog for a while and am always excited to see the photos and videos you post of the lake. You get to see (and feel!) the lake and the city in ways that other people don’t ever see it, and I find that so interesting.
    I am in a documentary photography class right now, and a lot of our assignments entail capturing day to day events that are unique to Chicago (I did my last project on the infamous parking spot dibs). I was wondering if I could come out some morning and just shoot a roll of film or two that shows what you guys do everyday, from before your workout to after you get out of the water.
    If you could shoot me an email that would be great!
    Thanks!!

    1. Hi Anne. Sorry we keep missing you! Our most recent swims have been pretty spontaneous, but it looks like we might be out there again this Saturday late morning. Would that work for you?

  16. hi steve, a quick question … what water temps and ice conditions do you expect on monday, jan 17th? i expect to be in town sunday late afternoon through monday mid-afternoon and would love to get in a swim with you guys.

    1. Hi Mike! The lake will be in the 32F-33F range, but the ice looks like it’s away from the shore right now (at least at L1). However, that could change overnight. I just s/w some of the other swimmers, and it looks like we’re going to try for Sunday morning. Dave and/or Nick might be up or Monday, though, so I’ll pass along your note to them!

  17. Two things:

    1) I swim open water year-round in Northern California where I live (Humboldt County), and would like to get some good cold water swimming boots; neoprene, 5mm seems good. In addition, I have Blue Seventy gloves which are helpful but not really warm. Any suggestions as to manufacturers, websites, etc.?

    2) I will be back in Northern Illinois for the Christmas holidays (I hail from Rockford, and my wife is from Mt. Prospect) and am wonderingi f you guys will be doing a Lake Michigan swim during that time. How can I found out about this?

    Please respond to my e-mail address. Thanks.

  18. Ok, I’m game to join you for your next outing. A few questions before I take the “plunge”. How are you securing your land items while swimming? (towel, shoes, etc) How far are you guys swimming?

    I hope to see you guys this weekend – weather permitting.

    1. John, most of us swim out and back to Oak Street Beach (approx. 1 mile), but some people swim shorter or even longer distances. As far as our stuff goes, we only take out there what we need and lock up our bikes and bags in one big pile.

  19. Hi Steve,
    I’m coming to Chgo. for a visit for a couple of weeks on Wednesday. Chgo. is originally my home–anyway, would love to swim with some folks when I get there. Does anyone gather other days of the week and later in the day? I appreciate the input. Thanks.

  20. Hi, I am new to open water swimming in Chicago and have a question. From L1, how far is a mile swim? I am going to be heading to the lake tomorrow to prepare for an Ironman I am doing in July and any help would be greatly appreciated.

    1. Hi Kevin! If you start out at L1 and go to the middle of Oak Street Beach and back, that’s about 1 mile total. If you go all the way to Ohio Street Beach and back, that’s 3 miles.

  21. thanks for the response steve. i knew about lith, but that’s more of a hike for me than downtown. hopefully i’ll get down there before my race.

  22. hi steve, i never swam in open water before but have my first open water swim tri on the 27th. it looks like thunderstorms this saturday morning. i’m assuming its unsafe to swim in those conditions? also, i’m in the burbs and haven’t been able to find anywhere in the burbs to open water swim. do you know of any? if not, i’ll have to find some time to get down there when weather permits to get in. thanks.

    1. Hi Greg. We usually luck out in the early mornings as the storms tend to arrive after 8:00am. If it’s raining that early, we’ll still swim. However, it’s a no go if there’s lightning. The only other place I’ve done any open water swimming in the Chicago area is up in Lake in the Hills at Indian Trail Beach. If you’re anywhere near there, be sure to check it out!

  23. I’d like to join you, if possible, this Sunday (6/13). Do I look for you at L1 at sunrise? Two more questions: how far do you swim typically, and until what time is the parking free in the lot just north of L1?

    Looking forward to it!

    1. I plan to be there at sunrise, which is pretty darn early this time of year (5:20am). However, I’m listing the official start time as 6:00am. I usually do an out-and-back mile, but there’s no set swim plan – you pretty much do whatever you’re most comfortable doing. Also, I don’t think there is anymore free parking at NAB. They now have the “pay to park” machines there, and I believe it’s a 24-hour enforcement. 🙁

  24. That’s great! I’ll try the Facebook post.

    Thanks for the response, srhernan!

  25. Hi! I’m traveling to Chicago for business June 14-17th and would love to join people for an open-water swim. I’m training for Ironman, so I don’t want to miss a chance to get out there in the water.

    Does anyone swim early weekday mornings? I would probably need to get in by 6:30 a.m.

    Please let me know.
    Thanks!

    1. Hi Michelle. There are a few of us that are out there early during the weekdays but it’s more of a spontaneous outing. Feel free to post a notice on the OWC Facebook page about this:

      http://www.facebook.com/pages/Open-Water-Chicago/54050745921

      I’m trying to get more people to connect during the week for swims, and I’ve found that a lot of people are doing that on the FB site.

  26. I heard there may be a sighting of Lake Monster #5 out there this weekend. It’s been a long time since #5 has been spotted, so grab your cameras!!!

    1. Hey there! Playing catch up on my comment replies. Good to see you out once again – we’ll be there this weekend!

  27. WELL WELL WELL I GOT STEVES BONES OUT OF BED AND WE SWIM PROMATORY POINT TODAY….THE SUN WAS PERFECT AND THE WATER WAS NEAR PERFECTLY FLAT… WE SWAM OFF THE BEACH TO THE NORTH POINT THEN SWAM SOUTH… MANY TIMES I NEEDED TO STOP STEVE FROM SWIMMING TO MICHIGAN,INDIANA, LAKE SUPERIOR AND THE SAINT LAWERANCE SEAWAY… HE WAS ENJOYING THE SWIM SO MUCH HE JUST WANTED TO STAY IN THE WATER AND KEEP SWIMMING. IT WAS ONE FINE DAY AT THE BEACH TODAY…….

    1. It sure was a pretty sweet swim! We’re definitely going to have to make more visits out to that site!

  28. Hi Stephen,
    I am actually doing the Alcatraz triathlon in SF on May 2, so have been training for that as well. I haven’t had a chance yet to do an open water swim or really try out my wetsuit, so I would love to meet up with your group Saturday morning if the weather permits! I know it’s only a week before the race, but better late than never I guess. Where is Ladder 1? And do people meet at 7am or earlier so that you are swimming by 7? Would you suggest biking down or is there anywhere to park?

    Thanks for the information 🙂
    Liz

    1. Hi Liz. I’m definitely going to give it a go tomorrow morning (Saturday). There’s a chance of rain, but the air temperature looks like it’s going to be much warmer than the past two days. Ladder #1 is right off of the chess pavilion just south of the North Avenue Beach boathouse. I typically bike down there and start my swim around a little after 7am. I’ll usually take the water temperature as well as a few photos for the website. So feel free to stop by!

  29. Hello Julie and Stephen,
    I am going to San Francisco for my first Alcatraz swim June 6. Arriving June 2 to do the swim class with Pedro Ordenes.
    The Alcatraz swim isn’t long enough to make it a real challenge in a wetsuit, so I’m doing it without.
    My typical workout is 2 miles and I’ve done over 80 already this year.
    Dealing with the cold water will make it a challenge.
    Any hints for cold water swimming?
    And how do you suggest warming up for the swim, to be ready to go at full power once making the jump from the ferry?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi Bryon. Thanks for writing! Congrats on the Alcatraz swim. Perdro and his swimmers are a great group, so I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time. Here are a few prior posts that have some great tips on how to manage that swim:

      http://openwaterchicago.com/2009/07/02/sf-bay-swimming-primer/

      http://openwaterchicago.com/2009/07/23/how-to-swim-in-choppy-water/

      http://openwaterchicago.com/2008/11/24/sub-40f-swim-tips/

      http://openwaterchicago.com/2008/03/24/minimizing-immersion-shock/

      http://openwaterchicago.com/2008/04/23/part-3-the-mammalian-diving-reflex/

      Check these out, and you’ll have no problem in SF Bay!

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