78th Roy Webster Cross-Channel Swim Canceled
(Hood River, Ore.) – The 78th Annual Roy Webster Cross-Channel Swim has been canceled for 2020, organizers for the event announced Thursday. The event, which is sponsored by Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital and the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce, was scheduled for September 7th, 2020, in Cascade Locks, Ore., is now canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the direction of Gov. Brown to cancel events and gatherings larger than 100 people through September 2020.
This annual event draws over 500 hearty souls on Labor Day each year, to the Port of Cascade Locks to swim a 1.1 mile stretch across the mighty Columbia River. The Roy Webster Cross-Channel Swim attracts hundreds of participants from around the world. On the day of the swim, participants board the famous Sternwheeler paddleboat on the south shore of the Columbia at the Sternwheeler dock in Cascade Locks, OR, and are ferried across the river to the Washington shore, where the leap from the Sternwheeler and swim back to the Port of Cascade Locks. The annual event, in its 78th year, is scheduled to return in September 2021. “Our priority is the health and safety of our entire community, as well as the many swimmers who were looking forward to this year’s event, so we have made the unfortunate but prudent decision to cancel the 2020 Cross-Channel Swim,” said Kate Schroeder, executive director of the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce. “The Roy Webster Cross-Channel Swim has been a long-time staple event in Hood River County and brings both local swimmers and travelers from all over the world. It will be greatly missed this year. We look forward to returning next year to host this special event for the 79th year in 2021.
The Chamber would like to thank all of the sponsors and participants for their continued support despite this unforeseeable cancelation. As a consolation for the canceled 2020 swim event, registered participants will be entitled to early access to the 2021 registration and the paid 2020 registration fee will be applied to 2021 registration fees. No refunds will be issued. For those who have already purchased tickets to the Cross-Channel Swim and need more information, please email the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce at admin@hoodriver.org. For more information on visiting Hood River, call 800-366-3530 or at visithoodriver.com.
ABOUT HOOD RIVER, OREGON:
Located at the crossroads of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the magnificent Cascade Range and just an hour from Portland, Hood River is wildly gorge-ous, offering outdoor recreation, dramatic vistas, historic landmarks, bountiful fruit, and fantastic food, wine, beer, and cider. With accommodations ranging from luxury hotels to historic B&Bs, Hood River is a four- season destination for families, outdoor enthusiasts, weddings, corporate events and more. It was named a Top 10 Wine Destination for 2017 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine, and 2015 Best Adventure Town in the West by Sunset magazine. The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce supports economic development, community development, and destination marketing for Hood River, Cascade Locks, Mosier, Odell, Parkdale, Pine Grove and Mount Hood. For more information, call 800-366-3530 or visit visithoodriver.com.