Volunteer

Give a day. Get someone to the Point.

Every year volunteers from Pittsburgh and from out of town give up an entire day to help. Some of them have no affiliation to anyone swimming, to the race director, or to the swimming community at all.

On the water

What to volunteer for

Two roles put you on the river with the swimmers. Both are long days, and both are the reason this race can happen at all.

Kayaker

Every swimmer is flanked by two kayakers at all times — one handles feeding, the other carries water and supplements. You are your swimmer’s eyes, pace and encouragement for the whole 30K.

Time commitment: expect to be out there up to 12 hours
You and your swimmer coordinate feeding and communication in advance
Lunch is provided; bring your own snacks and plenty of fluids
Walkie talkie, cell phone, whistle, GPS and a flag on the kayak
Gel pad, gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen — sun in the morning and again at night
Watch for garbage and wood, the Brunot Island sandbar, and seaweed
Positive encouragement only — do not ask your swimmer how they are doing
A safety boat checks on you periodically; bathroom breaks are a pull-up to shore
Beat the Point by 4:00 PM
Arrange your own ride at the end of the day

Guide boat pilot

Powered escorts patrol the course all day, guide swimmers across the middle of the Ohio, carry backup water, and bring swimmers in past the Sister Bridges at the end.

Sign up for the first leg (Ohio), second leg (Monongahela), third leg (Allegheny), or the full day
Fuel is reimbursed
Ask us about the write-off — the 3RMS is run for the Forever Fund
insurance / registration requirements TBD

On land

Shore crew & support

Not a paddler and not a boater? These are the jobs that keep the day running.

Lunch prep

Make the swimmer and volunteer lunches the day before and morning of.

Lunch handoff

Wave the flag at the Point and hand lunches off to the kayaks as swimmers come through.

Kayak delivery

Get kayaks from 3 Rivers Outdoors to the launch on race morning.

Kayak pickup

Collect and return kayaks at the end of the day.

Buoy pickup

Pull the turnaround buoys off the course once the last swimmer is through.

Photographer

Shoot the launch, the water start, the legs and the finish.

Videographer

Capture the day on video for the race and its swimmers.

Musician

Play at the start, the Point, or the finish.

Medic

Licensed medical support on land and at the finish.

Cheering section

Be at the Point and along the river trail when swimmers come through.

Signs & setup

Set up course and viewing signage on race morning.

Wherever you’re needed

Tell us you’re in and we will find you a job on the day.

Before race day

How the run-up works

Three months out — volunteer shirts are ordered, so we need your size early.
One month out — kayakers and swimmers are given each other’s contact information, and we hold a volunteer Zoom call.
Two weeks out — joint call for kayakers and swimmers.
One week out — final volunteer call.
Race morning — 7:00 AM launch from the North Shore. Eat a good breakfast and drink plenty of fluids. Report time and parking are sent in advance.

Thank you

Without these people, there is no 3RMS

Greg Furer

Our “steady as she goes” escort pilot since 2013, aboard the iconic Mingler.

Judy and Norm Caves

For opening their home and providing dinner, year over year, for our race banquet.

Corey Berkey

Three years now as an escort pilot, watching over our swimmers.

Pittsburgh River Rescue & Pittsburgh Police

Our eyes and ears on the water, in case of any emergency.

Joella

Our buoys, year over year.

Matthew Miller

For making our lunches.

Our kayakers

From here in Pittsburgh and from abroad, who gave their day to help another achieve their goal.

3 Rivers Outdoors

For the kayaks, and for the discount that makes them possible.