PRESS RELEASE
For immediate distribution
NICOLAS KNAP TO COMPLETE A 16 KM SWIM DOWN THE
ST. LAWRENCE RIVER: FROM CAP-ROUGE TO PORT DE QUÉBEC
Quebec, August 15th, 2022 –Village Nordik, in partnership with the Port de Québec Oasis, will cheer a 16 kilometer swim on August 20th by “marathon” swimmer Nicolas Knap, down the St. Lawrence River. Knap will make his journey from Cap-Rouge to the Port de Québec to promote access to open water and Harbour bath as well as the benefits of physical activity.
“Contrary to popular belief, the water quality in the river is fine for urban swimming. We hope that Knap’s inaugural swim will herald the start of an annual tradition that will promote swimming at the Port de Québec Oasis,” said Marc-Olivier D’Amours, general manager of Village Nordik du Port de Québec, a non-profit organization whose mandate is to promote year-round recreational tourism at Bassin Louise.
A 16 kilometer course in cold water
Knap’s plan is to swim along the St. Lawrence River starting at the Cap-Rouge Marina (not far from the boat ramp) to Quai Saint-André adjoining the recently inaugurated Port de Québec Oasis.
The 16 kilometer swim, which is expected to last approximately two hours depending on weather conditions, will include five legs:
Departure from Marina de Cap-Rouge at 4:25 p.m.
Leg 1: Pont de Québec/Quai des Cageux
Knap will swim past Parc de la Plage Jacques-Cartier, and then under the arches of Quebec City’s two main bridges to Quai des Cageux and then in the waters alongside Promenade Samuel-De Champlain.
Leg 2: Jetée de Sillery
Knap will pass by Quai des Brumes, Quai des Hommes, and Quai des Vents during his journey around Parc de la Jetée de Sillery.
Leg 3: Anse au Foulon
During this leg Knap will swim past Anse St-Michel, in front of Anse-au-Foulon and past the Yacht Club de Québec.
Leg 4: Bassin Brown/Anse des Mères
Knap will head towards Bassin Brown (Anse des Mères) not far from the staircase near Cap Blanc.
Leg 5: Musée Naval de Québec
Knap will then pass Promenade Samuel-De Champlain, the citadelle de Québec, the coast guard, the Château Frontenac, and Place des Canotiers and then enter the Port de Québec and swim along the Musée Naval de Québec.
Arrival at the Port de Québec between 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (*depending on weather conditions)
Knap will pass through the locks and will touch Quai Saint-André, at Port de Québec Oasis.
“Swimming is a great way to discover and promote the river! Enthusiasts can follow my journey while doing physical activity, either walking or rolling along the shore of the St. Lawrence. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy the river, the landscapes and to promote open water swimming, which is a magnificent sport,” says Knap.
The swimmer’s entire journey and coordinates will be recorded using a high-performance GPS. The swim can thus be followed live on smart devices via the tracks.rs system, on social networks and on Knap’s personal website (nicolasknap.com).
Supervision and security
A two-boat team will escort Mr. Knap throughout his swim, in order to ensure that the event runs smoothly, that he is safe at all times, and to provide supplies and directions as needed.
Port de Québec Oasis, which is located in Bassin Louise close to Espace 400e was inaugurated last July when it became North America’s first harbour bath. The public will be able to enjoy free swimming and the terrace until September 10*.
About Village Nordik
Village Nordik du Port de Québec is a non-profit organization with a mandate to promote Bassin Louise as a year round recreational tourism site. Its main features include Village Nordik du Port de Québec which offers citizens and visitors ice fishing activities. In summer, the site is transformed into Port de Québec Oasis, a harbour bath facility offering swimming and relaxation activities.
About Nicolas Knap
Nicolas Knap, “the marathon swimmer” has been swimming in open water for many years. During his career, Knap covered distances ranging from 25 to 88 km. His passion for swimming has enabled him to collect numerous international distinctions and medals. Knap’s achievements include: the French Open Water Championship, European Open Water Swimming Cup, crossing from Alcatraz to the coast of San Francisco, crossing the Strait of Gibraltar, the Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival, swimming between Saint-Joseph-de-la-Rive and L’Île-aux-Coudres, and the Boston Light Swim.
* Opening hours may vary depending on the temperature, check the Oasis Facebook page for schedule changes.
Village Nordik |villagenordik.com | loasisduportdequebec.com
Nicolas Knap | nicolasknap.com
Alexandra Mc Donald | Alexandra@fernandezcom.ca
C. 418 271-7600
My-Le Nguyen | my-le@fernandezcom.ca
C. 438 830-5452
