August 10, 2022, by admin

This past Sunday, August 7th, the small Sage Beach that sits adjacent to the Sitka Sound Science Center kicked off the 13th annual Change Your Latitude race, the nation’s northernmost open ocean swim race. At a latitude of 57˚ N and water temperatures cold enough to produce shivers, the sheer thrill of a challenge attracts swimmers from across the country to Sitka, Alaska. 

Organized by the prestigious Baranof Barracuda Swim Club, the race offered various swim distances of 10k, 6k, 3k and 1k. As longtime friends and collaborators of the Sitka Sound Science Center (SSSC), every year the race starts at Sage Beach and follows the shoreline south along the Sitka National Historical Park. 

Stationed beside the swimmers and floating above the schools of salmon are numerous companion kayakers, watching over unaccompanied swimmers should they veer too far from the course. In one of the kayaks sits an SSSC Interpretive Guide. From here, she claims, is the ultimate view: watching the tremendous stamina of salmon and swimmers side by side.

Before the race begins, swimmers are briefed about the many obstacles they may encounter along the way, from crab pots to pink salmon! 

With the Sheldon Jackson hatchery seeing a record number of returning pink salmon in 2022, these roughly 37,000 salmon were crowding the shores of SSSC that morning, eager to spawn. They’ve been making their presence known by flinging their bodies out of the water, where they wiggle in the air for a split second before crashing back down into the waves. Although there are many theories explaining why salmon jump, none have been scientifically proven as of yet, so we like to say that they are just having fun. Shortly after the race started it became difficult to differentiate between the salmon splashing and the swimmers breaking the surface for air. The ripples, splashes and waves had all become intertwined. 

 

Stuck in a moment of confusion and amazement, a blissful observation occurred. Two groups of participants. One ocean. Science and sport.

Every year the Change Your Latitude race is a unique sight: an environment that welcomes, even challenges, two species to test the strength of their endurance side by side.

For more information about next year’s race and activities visit the Change Your Latitude website at: https://changeyourlatitude.org.