Organizers of a 27-mile Lake Memphremagog swimming marathon will break tradition and move the start of the race from Vermont to Magog, Quebec. That means swimmers in the International Lake Memphremagog Swimming Competition will travel a loop that starts and ends in Magog. For the last 25 years, they have traveled the length of the lake.
Organizers say the change was forced in part by new immigration rules. Last year, an Egyptian swimmer wasn’t allowed to land at Magog without returning to Newport by boat and passing through U.S. Customs and Immigrations.
The organizers also say sponsorship has dropped off and it’s less expensive to start and end the race in Magog.