Hermit Island Swim & Paddle

SWIM, WALK, FLOAT or PADDLE your way around Hermit Island with your kids, neighbors and out-of-town guests! 

This year’s event will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023. Registration for all swimmers and paddlers will begin at 9:00 a.m. and end by 9:45 a.m. Even though there is no entrance fee for this event you must register (at the event) to participate. Waivers can be downloaded and brought with you already signed to hand in at registration. This is suggested to save time at registration!

Donations are encouraged and sponsorships are offered: $200/paddle, $400/Buoy, and $1,000/Gold Medal Sponsor. Donations will be used to battle Aquatic Invasive Species and help fund our Clean Water Clean Boats & Shoreland Restoration initiatives. Come join the fun and keep our “Jewel of the North” beautiful and pristine for years to come. 

DATE: Saturday, July 1, 2023 

TIME: 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 

LOCATION: Swim beach on the south side of Hermit (Olmstead) Island on Tomahawk Lake 

REGISTRATION: 9:00-9:45 a.m. You MUST be registered by 9:45 a.m. to participate so please get there early! 

RACE TIMES: 10:00 a.m. Hermit Wave – a short, 100-yard race for kids 10 years and under 10:15 a.m. Swim Elite Wave – Competitive swim race for trophies 10:20 a.m. Swim Fun Wave – Friendly non-competitive race 10:30 a.m. Paddle Wave – Kayaks, Canoes and Paddle Boards 

BRING: Towel and Water Bottle 

New to the event? That’s awesome! There will be two race courses set up around the island – one for swimmers and one for paddlers, and a very short children’s swim course where kids can either walk/run or swim. Three traveling trophies will be awarded (our traveling trophies visit homes on Tomahawk Lake for one year and winners’ names are added to the TLA HISP plaque): Two traveling trophies will be awarded to the first-place male and female swimmer in the Elite Wave, and a third traveling trophy will be awarded to the first-place person in the Paddle Wave. Medals will be given to each child aged 10 or under in the Hermit Wave. 

Swimmers wanting to qualify for awards can wear a wetsuit, but are not allowed to use other devices to aid in speed such as fins. Swimmers in the friendly, noncompetitive wave can use anything to help make the event easier or more enjoyable (i.e., lifejackets, kickboards, flippers, innertubes, etc.).