62e Traversée Internationale du Lac St-Jean 32km

On the morning of the 32km crossing, the shoreline of Roberval undergoes a transformation. The local organizing committee for the Traversée internationale du lac St-Jean coordinates the departure from Péribonka with a precision honed since 1955, when Jacques Amyot first navigated these waters in over eleven hours. The atmosphere at the start is defined by the endurance of those who return annually to test themselves against this expansive basin, a tradition that grew from a local challenge into a venue for the 2010 FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships.

A landscape carved by water

The swim traverses the Piekuakamu, as the Innu people have long named these waters. This title, reflecting the history of the Pekuakamiulnuatsh First Nation, carries weight as you push through the central expanse of the lake. Beneath the surface, the basin holds the geological history of the Laflamme Sea, a saltwater remnant left behind by the retreating Laurentide Ice Sheet. The post-glacial rebound that lifted the land here left behind the sediment-heavy floor you cross today, a stark contrast to the depths of the 63-meter Saguenay Graben rift. As you approach the western shore, the prominent headland of Pointe-Bleue emerges, marking the site of the Mashteuiatsh First Nations reserve. The name, derived from the Innu word for 'where there is a point', serves as a vital navigational landmark as the finish line at Roberval finally comes into view.

Racing conditions

While the 32km distance represents the pinnacle of the event, those seeking a shorter effort in the same waters can participate in the 1-2-5km Uniprix Julie Beaupré held the day prior. The lake is generally shallow, yet its 1,053 km² surface area allows for significant chop if the wind shifts against the current. The water temperature in late July typically stabilizes, though the sheer scale of the basin means conditions can vary drastically between the Péribonka start and the Roberval finish. Wildlife such as muskrats near the Ouiatchouaniche River mouth remain undisturbed in their protected habitats, while the legacy of early Jesuit arrivals like Jean de Quen and the 1940s labor camps along the shore provide a backdrop to the solitude of the long-distance athlete. For the professional field, the focus remains squarely on the rhythmic cadence required to cross the Piekuakamu before the afternoon thermal winds begin to rise.