The first official ‘bog snorkeling championships’ were held in Wales in 1985. The competitive sport involves a 60 yard trench that is dug out of a peatbog. Snorkelers must be sober, but a wetsuit is optional. The sporting event has become internationally known and has attracted competitors from around the globe. For many years, ASWM has suggested a wetlands tri-athalon, which would involve bog snorkeling in one leg of the race. Perhaps the other two might be leap-frog relays through a meadow and kayaking through a swamp. There are a number of different ways to prepare a course a and hold an event so it’s important to check local, state and federal regulations before organizing such a sporting event in area wetlands. Negative impacts on wetlands should be avoided or minimized. Here are some links to bog snorkeling championship photos.
The World Bog Snorkeling Championships
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1836069,00.html
Extreme Bog Snorkeling in Wales
http://bogsnorkeling.com/
Cookeemama’s Rambles: Welsh Bog Snorkeling Championships (includes video)
http://cookeemama.blogspot.com/2009/
01/welsh-bog-snorkeling-champinships.html
Bob Snorkeling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Bog_snorkelling
Bog Snorkeling in Wales is quite popular! Until finding your site, tho, I didn’t realize that it was done in the US, too!! It has really economically helped the small town that hosts it.