Welcome to episode 201 of the Löw Tide Böyz - A Swimrun Podcast!

In this episode we are discussing how to qualify for ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship since the advent of their new ranking system. We’ve gotten a bunch of questions from our listeners about how to get to the start line so we’re breaking down all the ways to qualify for the race that started it all.

Things that are the same as in year’s past:

• Registration window from January 1st through the 25th.
• A total of 160 team spots available
• All podium teams from ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship from the previous year (9 spots) (Only for the same team constellation as on the podium)
• Race Directors choice (10 spots) that are used at the Race Director’s discretion throughout the year for sponsors, media and special circumstances.

Things that are a different/new:

• There is no longer going to be Direct qualification for the World Championship. (Used to be that podium finishers at World Series events would get slots. That is no more.)
• The Swimrun Ranking system has been revamped and “simplified” and uses a new point system:
  • Team members collect individual points
  • Team members collect points from January to December by finishing in the Top 30 of each category (men/women/mixed) at an ÖTILLÖ World Series or an ÖTILLÖ Merit Race TEAM event. The winning teams will earn a maximum of 60 points (ÖTILLÖ World Series) and 30 points (ÖTILLÖ Merit Race) per athlete.
  • At the beginning of the year, every athlete in the ranking has the chance to apply with a team partner of their choice. ÖTILLO will then add all accumulated points of both partners and create its ÖTILLÖ qualification list, which will be the basis for the invitation to participate at The Swimrun World Championship.

How Does the New Point System Work:

• The Top 30 teams that finish a race in each category (Men/ Mixed/ Women) at ÖTILLÖ World Series events and ÖTILLÖ Merit Races get ranking points.
• With these points you can apply for Ranking selection at ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship.
• All athletes in the ranking will be provided with an invitation to apply for a spot with a partner of their choice that also has collected ranking points in 2023. The two individual rankings will then be added together and will lead to a team ranking for the qualification of ÖTILLÖ, The Swimrun World Championship 2024.
• Applications based on Swimrun Rankings take place from January 1st-25th with the announcement of teams taking place on Swimrun Christmas, a.k.a., The first Thursday in February. (Feb. 1 in 2024)

The points are distributed based on the following criteria:

• Racers get individual ranking points at all ÖTILLÖ World Series team events and ÖTILLÖ Merit Races (long distance only) from January 1st to December 31st (calendar year). 
• No points for Solo category racers!
• Ranking points will be awarded to Top 30 finishers of ÖTILLÖ World Series (WS) and ÖTILLÖ Merit Races (MR) in each category (Men/ Mixed/ Women)
• Points for ÖTILLÖ World Series Races (WS): 60 for winning team/ athlete
• Points for ÖTILLÖ Merit Races (MR): 30 for winning team / athlete
• At WS races points are allocated ranks 1-30 with 2 points difference to the next placed team (1st: 60 pts, 2nd: 58 pts etc.)
• At MR races points are allocated ranks 1-30 with 1 point difference to the next placed team (1st: 30 pts, 2nd: 29 pts etc.)

Confirmed ÖTILLÖ Events for 2024:

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Utö - June 8th

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Engadin - June 29th

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Mackinac - June or July TBC

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Gothenburg - August 3rd

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Casco Bay - August 11th

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Sprint Final 15k August 31st

ÖTILLÖ The Swimrun World Championship - September 2nd

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Orcas Island - September 15th

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Cannes - October 12th

ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Pace Bend Park - November 3rd

Summary

In closing, we think that while it will be more straightforward to qualify under the ranking system, it may be harder for “slower” teams to garner enough points to qualify easily but definitely not impossible. We think that these new rules are an improvement and reflect the reality that there are many Swimrunners experiencing events with different partners and this new system really embraces that. Finally, we definitely recommend that teams put the World Championship in their sights and experience the sheer epicness of the Stockholm Archipelago for themselves.

Enjoy!

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That’s it for this week’s show. 

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Thanks for listening and see you out there!

-  Chip and Chris