Which setup is better for training OWS: the Chatfield gravel pond or in the Aurora reservoir?
They’re both about the same price and are equidistance from my house.
The gravel pond seems to be a straight 900m shot, so 1800m out and back (which seems like it would be advantageous), but swimming is only available 3 days a week, in specific slots of time and you have to be a member of COMSA.
The Aurora reservoir is open from 5:00 AM to dark and I can swim whenever fits into my schedule; however, the course (as I understand) is really just a few small buoys in a triangle (around 300m?).
I have swam at both, however, I have not swam at Aurora Res in quite some time. They are both a hassle for me to get to. Saturday mornings are insanely busy at Chatfield Gravel Pond so if you swim then you need to sign up for an early slot. To swim at Chatfield you must join an organization that has a permit to swim there and then signup through whatever system they are using. The swim at Chatfield is fairly straight forward, usually parking is okay if you swim early in the morning M-W. I haven’t swam there in the late afternoon/evenings is years. The weather can be dicey in the evening with thunderstorms. Plus, traffic is even worse in the evenings.
Last time that I swam at Aurora they had both the 3 buoys near the far shore and a type of lap lane set up near the swim beach. However, I believe you can swim there whenever you like but I am not sure about that. I guess whichever venue you choose is up to you and the pros/cons of the venue.
Chatfield Gravel Pond - you absolutely CANNOT SWIM THERE unless you are already on a permit with a group. And all of the permits are full. So Gravel Pond isn’t an option for you.
Aurora Res - Scuba Beach is definitely better. Water is nice and clean, there are 3 buoys set up that are ~400-500 yards around. Water is cooler than the rest of the OWS in the area. Recommend bringing a lock and using the lockers in the area, things can disappear.
When my wife and I were in Denver for a conference, we hit up the Highlands Ranch open water swims through Swimlabs. If I remember correctly, they had a 1.2 mile course and a shorter one as well that you could cut off and come back. I thought that was a really nice lake. Very cold that day though…
We just purchased a drop in pass being from out of town…
I"m admittedly biased to the Aurora reservoir, it’s in my back yard. I’ve swam at both, both are great open water courses, but that’s where the similarities end in my opinion. As already mentioned, Chatfield you need the permit, which they sell out fast every year. Aurora reservoir, $50 bucks for an annual pass, if you go 6 or more times it’s paid for itself. Chatfield controls the number of swimmers allowed in and has designated times of day, Aurora is wide open from 5 AM to sunset. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen more than 10 swimming at the scuba beach or the lap section at the main beach.
One other big plus for Aurora, if you’re into doing brick workouts there is no better place in the metro area for OWS bricks. Miles and miles of riding on Quincy out to Watkins and/or Bennett. Of course the 8 mile loop around the reservoir itself, replete with bathroom facilities every couple of miles or less.
I really miss when race organizers held 4-5 races out there a year.