I'm really glad to see SC Nationals moved into April, one of the problems with having it in May is you have very little time to prepare for LC in August. I'd still like to see USMS host a SCM nationals in December! 3 majot championships a year held in the same "windows" as USS scheduling would make a lot of sense.
Chris,
For information regarding the facilities in Savannah, contact Scott Rabalais at scottrabalais@compuserve.com.
And, a second bid from New Orleans was presented for the 2004 Long Course meet. Savannah won the vote and was selected.
Gail, I think its unlikely we'd get to much interest in changing the SCY nationals in April/May switched to meters (far two few meters pools to train in in this country). I propose a SCM championship to give us three national championship meets a year vs. just two.
Late fall is the "traditional" season when Eurpoeans host SCM meets (many attend our SCY nationals in spring and their own LCM nationals in summer). It would also allow training "windows" of about 3 months between each major meet.
I brought this up in the last forum because so many of us shave and taper for a SCM meet this time of year anyway (NEM and Long beach both host 3 day meets). Rumor has it that Long Beach may not be happening this year?
I should say that Pacific also hosts a three-day SCM meet, this year at Walnut Creek. Maybe it should be called a four-day meet, since the 1500 is held somewhere else. It's a good meet, my memory is that several national records are broken every year.
The NEM meet is a two day meet. This year, it will be held Saturday December 14th and Sunday December 15th at Wheaton College (very fast pool) in Norton, MA. More information can be found at: www.swimnem.org
Yes, the SPMA will not be held at Long Beach. They are searching for another venue. Word has it that UNLV might be the site.
Stay tuned for a "challenge" from NEM. We are working with several regional championship meet directors to create a "virtual" SCM championship. More on that later, as NEM seeks to retain its title as "center of racing for masters swimming."
The Pacific SCM Championships are Oct 12 and 13. The 1500 is Oct 5 this year. I'm thinking you can call it a 3 day meet? Or is it a 2.5 day meet? The 1500 is in a different locale.
Jim
Some of the swimmers in this area are staying away from the 1500 meters event run by the Airport Club because of the $20.00 entry fee. Does anyone else think this is excessive for one event?
What Gail is referring to is the Pacific Masters' 1500 SCM Championships.
I am sure that there are some swimmers who will think that it is excessive, however, I dont.
Look at the fees for a one mile open water event. Most are $25-30.
The money to pay for the rental of the pool has to be covered as well as the rental of any timing equipment and most meet hosts like to make a few dollars for their effort. The bad thing about distance swimming is that there are fewer swimmers to cover the costs. Therefore the only way to make the money is to raise the fees.
michael
I know that at least one pool in our area costs roughly $300 per hour to rent for meets once you add up facility rental, security, janitorial, utilities etc.
Assuming an average of, conservatively say, 20 minutes per heat and 8 swimmers per heat that's only $480 income per hour of competition. That doesn't account for incomplete heats, warm-up time before the first swim or warm-down after the last swim or time to clear the building afterwards etc.
I would estimate that, in the local pool I'm talking about that at $20 per swimmer, the meet director would be losing money during the 1500meter event.
