THE EVENT
SERRE-PONÇON SWIM CHALLENGE
10 km & 20 km
An extraordinary open-water adventure in the heart of the Alps
- Vendredi 3 & Samedi 4 juillet 2026
- Lac de Serre-Ponçon, Hautes-Alpes, France
L'aventure commence dans
Overview
The Serre-Ponçon Swim Challenge is a long-distance open-water swimming event held on one of Europe’s most beautiful mountain lakes — Lac de Serre-Ponçon, in the Hautes-Alpes region of France.
This first edition, taking place on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 July 2026, brings together passionate swimmers, kayak partners, safety teams, and the local community for a weekend of endurance, connection, and respect for nature.
Two distances — 10 km and 20 km — invite experienced swimmers to take on a personal challenge in a fully supported and professionally supervised environment.
Courses
The event features two long-distance point-to-point courses across the turquoise waters of SerrePonçon:
Chadenas ➜ Camping du Presqu'île
- 20 km -
Chadenas ➜ Baie des Lionnets
- 10 km -
Both courses are supervised by motorboats, safety kayaks, and shore teams.
Programme
Friday
3
Jully 2026
Relay & Event Village Opening
04:00–14:00 — Relay Swim (teams of 2–4 swimmers)
04:00–14:00 — Opening of the Event Village (welcome desk, registration centre, and briefing area))
15:00 & 17:00 — Mandatory Safety Briefing Sessions for all solo swimmers and kayak partners (10 km & 20 km)
Two sessions will be offered to accommodate arrivals throughout the afternoon.
Attendance at a briefing is required before collecting safety equipment (radio, Restube, hat, etc.).
Swimmers who arrive later will be required to watch the recorded briefing video in the registration centre before collecting their kit.
After completing the briefing:
Collection of safety equipment, swim hats, and registration packs
Opportunity to test radios
Evening — Informal social time at the Event Village and Relay Team celebration
Saturday
3
July 2026
Main 10 km & 20 km Swims
02:00 — Transfer from Baie des Lionnets to Chadenas for 20 km swimmers and their support partners
03h00 — Transfer from Camping du Presqu’île to Chadenas for 10 km swimmers and their support partners
(Participants with accommodation packages will meet directly at the swim start.)
04:00 — Start of both swims
- 10 km Swim — Chadenas ➜ Camping du Presqu’île
- 20 km Swim — Chadenas ➜ Baie des Lionnets
07:00–10:00 — Estimated arrival window for 10 km swimmers
11:00–15:00 — Estimated arrival window for 20 km swimmers
Snacks and refreshments will be available at both finish areas for swimmers and support teams.
From 12:00 onwards – Celebration BBQ and gathering at the BSM Village in Chorges
Participants who book our all-inclusive packages will enjoy additional experiences — including accommodation, coaching, acclimatisation swims, and local excursions around the lake.
Safety & Support
Safety is at the heart of the Serre-Ponçon Swim Challenge.
All activities are organised under the official open-water safety plan approved by the Hautes-Alpes prefecture, ensuring every swimmer is fully supported throughout their experience.
Relay Swim (Friday 3 July 2026)
• Each relay team is fully supported by a dedicated safety boat provided by the organisation.
• On board: a qualified lifeguard (BNSSA or equivalent) and a coach dedicated to the team.
• No personal support person is required — this is included in your package.
• The team’s safety boat follows swimmers closely for the entire duration of the relay, providing guidance, encouragement, and immediate intervention if necessary.
Solo 10 km & 20 km Swims (Saturday 4 July 2026)
• Every solo swimmer must be accompanied by their own kayak support person for the full duration of the swim (unless included in your package).
• The organisation provides:
◦ A kayak, paddle and lifejacket per swimmer
◦ Safety equipment for the kayakist (radio, whistle)
◦ A Restube safety buoy for each swimmer
• The kayak support person is responsible for:
◦ Feeding and hydrating the swimmer at regular intervals (every 30–45 minutes recommended)
◦ Monitoring the swimmer’s well-being and communicating with safety boats if needed
• Swimmers must bring their own feeds and hydration fluids (energy drinks, gels, snacks, etc.) in clearly labelled containers for their kayakist to manage during the swim.
• If your package includes kayak support, an experienced kayakist will be arranged for you.Otherwise, you must bring your own competent support person able to kayak confidently alongside the swimmer.
Additional requirement for 20 km swimmers:
• For safety and comfort reasons, the 20 km distance requires two support persons, alternating at the 10 km mark (Camping du Presqu’île).
• This ensures continuous coverage and allows kayakists to rest, refuel, and, let’s be honest take a proper break! 😅
Event-Wide Safety Measures
• Continuous supervision by motorised rescue boats, each equipped with a defibrillator, oxygen, and full first-aid supplies.
• Real-time coordination between all boats, kayaks, and the event control centre via VHF radio network.
• Dedicated shore-based logistics teams at key points along the route, ready to assist swimmers if required.
• Mandatory safety briefing for all swimmers and kayak partners on Friday 3 July at 17:00.
Water & Weather Conditions
Serre-Ponçon is known for its stable, sunny summer climate — with about 300 days of sunshine per year.
• Water temperature: 18–19°C in early July
• Air temperature: 6–7°C early morning, rising to 25–30°C in the afternoon
• Calm mornings, followed by light afternoon thermal breezes
Wetsuits are optional but mandatory if water temperature falls below 16°C.
Participation Requirements
Swimmers:
To ensure safety and comfort for everyone, all participants must:
• Be at least 18 years old on the day of the event
• Provide a valid medical certificate confirming fitness for open-water swimming
• Demonstrate (via race times already completed or an attestation) a minimum swimming pace as defined by the organisers
• Attend the pre-event safety briefing
• Have their own kayak support person confirmed at registration
Kayakist Competence & Attestation
For everyone’s safety, kayak support persons must be:
• Confident and competent paddlers, capable of maintaining a steady pace for up to 5 hours (10 km) or 8–9 hours (20 km) on open water
• Able to communicate calmly and clearly with the swimmer and safety teams via VHF radio
• Comfortable handling variable weather and water conditions
• Aware of basic first-aid principles (recommended but not mandatory)
A signed attestation confirming kayakist competence will be required at registration. This declaration ensures that each swimmer’s chosen support person understands the safety requirements and is capable of providing effective support throughout the swim.
Environmental Commitment
The Serre-Ponçon Swim Challenge is committed to low-impact, sustainable sport:
Water quality association in attendance at village for awareness?
Limited to 50 swimmers total to protect the lake
Zero single-use plastics
Reusable safety buoys
Encouragement of train + transfer travel options