Swim details 6.22.25
Bay Frog Open One-Mile Swim
In the tradition of the Erie Bay Swim that was held from 2008-2017, Uncommon Grit Foundation is hosting its third annual Bay Frog Open one-mile open-water swim, which will feature some of the region’s finest swimmers. Athletes will be accompanied by former Navy SEALs and special operations veterans as we raise money for our nation’s service men and women.
ONLY swimmers with extensive triathlon or open water experience will be permitted to participate. All applications will be thoroughly vetted by our swim committee. The Bay Frog Open, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Lake Effect Sporting Events reserve the right to refuse participation to any applicant for safety concerns.
The two items you need to register are below. You must 1) pay for your registration and 2) submit the registration form, which includes an electronic signature for the waiver and release. Both items must be completed for you to be considered for the swim.
Consider being a sponsor
Sponsorships allow us to hold the only-mile swim each year and to make it the high-quality event we all love. Take a look at our sponsorship opportunities and consider supporting the swim. Thank you to our current sponsors:
NEW FOR 2025!
You can fundraise for the swim by creating your own custom page to share with friends, family, coworkers, etc.
Top fundraisers will have the opportunity to earn prizes! You can be a fundraiser whether or not you are a swimmer in the event.
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Swim Registration and Bag Pickup
1-4 p.m.
Tom Ridge Environmental Center
310 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505
Sunday, June 22, 2025
Bay Frog Open One-Mile Swim
7:30 a.m. Start
Course: Starts at Presque Isle State Park – 3rd parking lot and ends at Erie Yacht Club.
Parking and Shuttle Service: Please park at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. EMTA buses will be on hand to shuttle participants to the third parking vista on Presque Isle. Buses will also return participants back to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center from Erie Yacht Club after the swim.
Questions about the swim or pickup? Email tlhokaj1@msn.com.
If you are interested in being a fundraiser, please email us at bearpaw@uncommongritfoundation.org and we’ll get you started. You’ll work through our main Donorbox campaign and you will have the ability to customize the levels of giving for your page. All funds will go directly to Uncommon Grit Foundation.
Ages
16 and over
Awards
While this is a non-competitive event, we will be awarding top place-finishers. In addition, awards will be given based on a random draw, keeping with Uncommon Grit Foundation tradition.
Awards will also be given to veteran men and women.
Cost
$100 Per Swimmer
$90 Per Erie Triathlon Club Member
$50 Per Collegiate Swimmer (please show your college ID the day of the swim)
As a swimmer, you will receive:
Custom swim buoy* with event logo (*due to safety concerns, buoys are mandatory to participate in this event)
Custom swim cap
Custom towel
Event t-shirt
Post-swim breakfast and refreshments at the Erie Yacht Club
Parking and Transportation
Pre-event parking with shuttle service will be available at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center.
Post-event transportation from the Erie Yacht Club to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center will be provided compliments of the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority.
TO GET STARTED AS A swimmer
BOTH of these items must be finished for you to be fully considered for the swim.
ONLINE PAYMENT. Submit your online payment (blue form below starts with “Choose amount”) for your level of participation—$100 regular swimmer, $90 Erie Triathlon Club member, or $50 collegiate swimmer.
SWIM APPLICATION. Complete and submit the online swim application at the bottom of the page (it’s a long, thorough form), which includes your electronic signature for the waiver and release. Please complete a separate form for each swimmer.
We'll only notify you if you are not eligible for any reason to participate in the swim. Otherwise, you are good to go.
The online ticketing box will walk you through levels and payment, gathering necessary contact information along the way. Please consider covering the cost of credit card fees if you pay online using this form. This will allow the full amount of your sponsorship to go to the foundation.
For swim questions, email tlhokaj1@msn.com. For sponsorship or other questions, email bearpaw@uncommongritfoundation.org.
Step 1 - Online Payment
Step 2 - swim application
Please complete the form below. This is part of the process of vetting our swimmers. The Bay Frog Open, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and Lake Effect Sporting Events reserve the right to refuse participation to any applicant for safety concerns. If your application is not approved, your entry fee will be refunded.