Swim Across AMERICA-ST. Louis Open Water Event

Long before the modern era of charity events, the rolling hills surrounding the Missouri river basin were home to the Mississippian culture, a civilization that shaped the earth into ceremonial mounds starting as early as the ninth century. Today, participants in the St. Louis Open Water Swim trace a different kind of path across the landscape, finding their own rhythm in the calm surface of Alpine Lake. The village of Innsbrook, where this 11th annual event unfolds, was designed with a specific aesthetic goal: to mirror the serene, A-frame clusters nestled among the Austrian Alps, specifically inspired by the Tyrolean capital of Innsbruck.

## The water

As you stand on the shoreline at 9:00 am, preparing for a rolling start, the water before you represents the largest of the community’s private lakes. Spanning 236 acres, the lake serves as a quiet center for the region historically known as 'The Westplex,' a designation coined in 1991 to identify the expanding western suburbs of St. Louis. While you navigate the 805m, 1609m, or 3219m courses, the environment feels far removed from the bustle of the city. Swimmers often find that the stillness of the lake provides a stark, meditative contrast to the regional history of the nearby Skunk Creek, which drops over a hundred feet in elevation as it winds its way toward its confluence with Peruque Creek.

## Race day logistics

This event is part of a larger, dedicated effort to support the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine, having raised over $2.3 million since 2016. Because the water temperature remains favorable throughout late August, the use of wetsuits is governed by official policy rather than a blanket rule; participants are encouraged to consult the event's specific guidelines before arriving. If you are new to open water, the organizers offer an 'angel swimmer' program to provide support throughout your distance. The day begins with check-in between 6:45 and 7:45 am, followed by a safety briefing that is essential for all participants. For those looking for additional challenges earlier in the season, you might consider the mid-summer event at the same venue held in July, which offers a different perspective on these waters. As you prepare to swim, take a moment to look toward the horizon; although you are in the heart of Missouri, the architecture of the nearby historic Southwestern Bell Repeater Station, with its Tudor Revival quoins and terra cotta accents, stands as a reminder of the area's diverse structural history.