The Events
The State NZ Ocean Swim Series events calendar
'I'm Going Long' swim distance
'Step It Up' 1000m swim distance
'Give It A Go' 300m swim distance
The State New Zealand Ocean Swim Events calendar
| Event name | Event Date | Registration |
| State Paihia Classic, Bay of Islands | Saturday 10 November 2012 |
TBC |
| State Harbour Crossing, Auckland (2.9km swim only) | Sunday 2 December 2012 |
TBC |
|
State Capital Classic, Wellington |
Sunday 27 January 2013 | TBC |
| State La Grande Swim, Akaroa, Canterbury | Saturday 23 February 2013 |
TBC |
| State Sand to Surf, Mt Maunganui | Saturday 16 March 2013 |
TBC |
| State King of the Bays, North Shore, Auckland | Saturday 13 April 2013 |
TBC |
The ‘I’m Going Long’ swims
The ‘I’m Going Long’ swim is a great challenge for individuals who have trained or have swimming experience. This swim distance varies from 2.6km up to 3.3km – you can check the specific event page for distances at each race. If you have ever considered entering a longer open water swim the State New Zealand Ocean Swim Series provides an ideal environment to do this. For the duration of your swim you will have Surf Life Saving New Zealand guards on the water with you and you are surrounded by fellow swimmers who are on the same journey.
The ‘I’m Going Long’ swims are focused on swimming some of New Zealand’s most iconic waters like Auckland’s Harbour in the State Harbour Crossing or swimming around ‘The White Lady’ lighthouse in 
Wellington’s State Capital Classic. You can enter 3 or more events to be eligible for entry fee discounts. Because of the duration of time in the water we recommend wearing a wetsuit for the ‘I’m Going Long’ swim to assist with buoyancy and warmth but are not compulsory to enter the event.
There are 4 or 5 wave starts (start groups) depending on which event you have entered. The start groups are split by the estimated time you select during the entry process. We have a ‘novice only’ wave for those swimmers who are new to the longer swims and would like a little more space and less pressure on the starting line. You can select the ‘novice only wave’ during the entry process.
The’ Step It Up’ 1000m swims
The ‘Step It Up’ 1000m is ideal for those swimmers who would still like a challenge but perhaps aren’t quite ready to enter the ‘I’m Going Long’ swim. This can be a good swim distance for those with swimming experience that perhaps have never swum in the open water before or are training for a triathlon. The ‘Step It Up’ 1000m swim is also a great ‘step up’ for those that have previously swum in the ‘Give It A Go’ 300m swims. The Cut off time for the 1000m swim is 40 minutes. There are 2 or 3 wave starts in this event distance which are dependent on entry numbers. Please remember you don’t have to own or hire a wetsuit to participate in the swims. Wetsuits provide assistance with warmth & buoyancy but are not compulsory to enter the event. These events are patrolled by trained Surf Lifesaving NZ lifeguards who can assist you at any time.
The ‘Give It A Go’ 300m swims
The ‘Give It A Go’ 300m swim is a great introduction to ocean swimming and is suitable for most swimming abilities and ages from young to old! The ‘Give It A Go’ 300m course is typically a triangular course which is close to the beach. The cut off time for the 300m swim is 13 minutes. These events are patrolled by trained Surf Lifesaving NZ lifeguards who can assist you at any time.