Volunteers (2024 Event Date Saturday, July 27th)

Thanks for your interest in being a volunteer. This community event is all volunteer-run and your help makes it even better. Each volunteer gets a Fat Salmon 2024 T-shirt.

LAND-BASED / BEACHSIDE VOLUNTEERS

Most of our volunteer duties are on-land or what we like to call “beachside”. The time-frame when we need the most people is from 5:30am to 10:45am on the day of the event. If you can commit to volunteering during this full time-frame, that is most helpful (don’t worry there is a bit of a break in the middle while waiting for first swimmers to finish). If you need a shorter time commitment, we have also have needs for people from 5:00-8:00am or 8:00-11:00am. Various volunteer jobs include set-up, swimmer check-in, timer, swimmer tracking, awards, hospitality, clean-up, etc. depending on the time you are available. Please indicate your willingness to help by sending an email to fatsalmonvolunteers@gmail.com. Please indicate the time-frame you can be available in your email and let us know if you have volunteered for Fat Salmon previously and what you did. Please note: often, the last remaining volunteer needs are first thing in the morning for set-up and check-in or people willing to help give swimmers a ride to the start (ready to drive at 7:15am, departing between 7:20 - 7:30 to Day Street Park

KAYAKER and PADDLEBOARDER VOLUNTEERS

In addition to the paid City of Seattle lifeguards on the water, we have volunteer kayakers and paddleboarders (need to provide own kayak or paddleboard) who paddle parallel to the swimmers on either side of the swim course to help keep swimmers from getting off course and are extra eyes and support for swimmer safety (not for individual swimmer support). These volunteers will begin gathering at the start of the race at Day Street Park at approximately 7am, attend a kayaker/paddleboarder briefing and be on the swim course from approximately 8:15am-10:30am. We will have a goodie bag of treats for you but you should bring your own water/bottle. Swimmers who provide 2 kayakers and/or paddleboarder volunteers are eligible to get their entry fee refunded (excluding any one event USMS fees) after the event. If you would like to volunteer as a kayaker or paddleboarder, send an email to our coordinator at fatsalmonkayakers@gmail.com. (we would ideally know for sure you are volunteering 3-4 weeks in advance). Please include the following information when you email: Kayak or Paddleboarder, T-shirt size, and if you are volunteering on behalf of a swimmer the name of the swimmer.

POWER BOAT VOLUNTEERS

Power boat volunteer (with their own power boat) activities include dropping off and picking up the inflatable course markers, anchoring along the race course to help keep other boaters out of swimmers' way, and helping lifeguards/kayakers/harbor patrol with any participants who need assistance (such as transporting swimmers to finish who are not on pace to complete the swim in the designated timeline). The approximate time-frame for this volunteering is from approximately 7am-11:00am. Swimmers who provide a power boat volunteer are eligible to get their entry fee refunded (excluding any one event USMS fees) after the event. We also offer a modest cash stipend to the power boat volunteer to help cover expenses such as fuel and will receive a goodie bag of boating supplies and an awesome race t-shirt! We typically need a total of 7-8 power boat volunteers. If you want to be a powerboat volunteer, please email fatsalmonpowerboats@gmail.com. (we would ideally know for sure you are volunteering 3-4+ weeks in advance)

OTHER:

If you would like to contribute or help in some other during or prior to the event, we may also have opportunities for you. You may email fatsalmonracedir2@gmail.com.