Wet Rock Race
Karingon

By Oscar Lindqvist

We have great news from Sweden regarding the Wet Rock Race Karingon swimrun. The Wet Rock Race, one of Sweden's oldest swimrun races, was recently revived for a special reason. This involved swimming and running for Käringön's new Rescue Boat.

The race from Gullholmen to Käringön took place after a five-year hiatus. Despite extreme weather conditions, over 200 participants took part.

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Wet Rock Race Käringn

Looking out over a rocky shore with two swimmers in view, at Karingon, Sweden.

Wet Rock race Käringön

The event, always organized by volunteers, successfully raised an impressive 516,750 kronor for the sea rescue service. This time, the goal was to fund a new rescue boat named after Anders Bagge, a beloved figure on Käringön who tragically passed away prematurely.

Anders Bagge's death has deeply affected the entire Käringön community, with various volunteer events and donations continuously contributing over the past year.

Mattias Hjorth, one of the founders of the Wet Rock Race, said, "Reviving the Wet Rock Race felt natural to honour Anders Bagge. His commitment and heart for the island and sea rescue were invaluable. We are now close to our fundraising goal, and it is incredible to see all of Käringön support this."

A swimrunner helping his partner out of the water at the Wet Rock race, karingon

Swimrun is a team effort!

Lars Samuelsson, CEO of the Sea Rescue Society, added, "the loss of Anders Bagge has been a great sorrow for all of us. It is fantastic to see the strength now raising money for a new rescue boat. Wet Rock Race 2024 was perhaps the most challenging ever with rain and gale-force winds, but we are truly impressed by the athletes' fighting spirit. This initiative is truly something special."

Wet Rock Race Käringön
- The Course

Start

The event begins on Gullholmen, with a group warm-up session held on the island's football field. The start on Gullholmen is a mass start, so runners are advised to proceed with caution. Teams line up according to their team numbers and, after the starting signal, proceed in a line across the bridge to Härmanö. Once over the bridge, the race truly begins with free pacing.

Grindebacken

After approximately 3 km of running, participants reach Grindebacken. This is a good spot for a refreshing dip as it is common to feel quite warm by this point. Wait until you pass a flag on the main road before heading towards the water to avoid private property. Officials will indicate where to leave the road. The swim starts at Grindebacken Strandhak, rounding two buoys, and ends at the beach, totaling about 500 meters.

Swimrun racers scrambling over rocks at the Wet Rock race karingon

A rocky exit!

Checkpoint Härmanö

The first checkpoint is on Härmanö, just after the initial swim. Here, participants can hydrate at the race's first water station. Following this checkpoint is about 3 km of trail running with some short water crossings before reaching Årholmen.

Checkpoint Årholmen

At the top of Årholmen, a flag will be placed for participants to aim for. The second checkpoint is at the southern tip, where hydration is also available. After this checkpoint, the toughest swim section, Vallerösund, awaits. Although only about 300 meters, it can be challenging due to currents and waves.

Checkpoint Vedholmen

Following Vallerösund, participants run across Vallerö, Tornö, and Vedholmen, totaling about 3 km. The third and final checkpoint is on Vedholmen's southeastern side. From here, the finish is near, with a visible exit point on Käringön. The swim here is approximately 200 meters.

Finish

Before finishing on Käringön, all teams must pass the kiosk and take a mandatory dip in the harbor. The jump must be at a designated spot to avoid interfering with boat traffic. The race concludes with a short sprint in Käringön's harbor, ending at Skeppersholme by the Sea Rescue Station. The harbor may be crowded, so extra caution is advised. Numerous officials will be present to alert the public and spectators.

A man wearing safety gear riding a red jet ski at the Wet Rock race at karingon

Safety team standing by.

Käringön is known for its strong community spirit, the so-called "Käringöandan." This fundraising effort shows that it is still very much alive. The fundraising is close to its goal, but more contributions are needed to reach the finish line.

To contribute or get involved, contact the fundraising manager for the Sea Rescue Society.

You can read all about the Wet Rock Race at their website.

Photocredit: Valentin Baat