Sunday, February 9, 2025

Wrightsville Beach hosting 11th Annual Pier-2-Pier race

The 11th Annual Pier-2-Pier swim will be occurring Saturday, Sept. 12 in Wrightsville Beach, but registration ends soon.

The race is done in memory of Ryan Alea Young, a UNCW swimmer and Wilmington Swim League coach killed in a car accident in 2009. It is the third event of this year’s Coastal Carolina Swim Series presented by Toad Hollow.

Competitors will swim a 1.7-mile course between Johnny Mercer Pier and Crystal Pier. The direction of the route will be determined on race day depending on the currents. The race begins at 9 a.m. and is preceded by a briefing on the starting beach at 8:45 a.m. Buses will be provided for transportation between the parking area and the start and finish lines. Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue lifeguards, race marshals in kayaks and the United States Coast Guard will be patrolling the course both on the sand and in the water.

The competition is open to anyone ages 11 and up and is divided into age divisions by gender. Each swimmer will be given a brightly colored, numbered swim cap at check-in that they will be required to wear. According to the swimwear rules posted on the website, wetsuits are not allowed, nor are outfits that cover the neck, shoulders or ankles. ChampionChip anklet tags will also be given out at check-in to track individual start and finish times.

The event will be capped at 400 swimmers. Online registration will end on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 9 a.m. In-person registration is available on Friday night from 5 – 7 p.m. at Toad Hollow and on the day of the race at the start line. Proceeds from the event benefit the Cape Fear Aquatic Club and the Wilmington Family YMCA.

To register for the event, click here. For complete information on the race, visit the Pier-2-Pier website.

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