How about some reminiscing about the worst pools you ever were forced to work out and/or compete in ??
Our old pool was 20 yards long, with gutters and the deck was about 2 feet above that. The water level was always low, so it was like ocean swimming every day. There were no starting blocks and the "lane lines" were nylon cord with a plastic bobber every 3 feet or so. The water was always quite warm to accomodate the family swims and lessons that were also sharing the pool during the day.
Since goggles had not yet been invented and the only antiseptic method was chlorine (lots of it), we would have those chlorine "light halos" until the next day. The kick-boards were solid, varnished wood and they doubled as pull-buoys. There were no fins or hand paddles.
Thank the higher power of your choice that we had a GREAT coach.
Oh, did I mention that they used to beat us with knives???
Bert
The worst pool I ever competed in was the old USC indoor pool.
the one with the gargoyles in the corners?
i've race in that pool.
the record board was a who's who of the swimming world with records held by goodell, furness, naber....
HA! the pool at texas a&m is far worse. 1st (and only) time i walked into it i asked my coach if that was the warmup pool...he laughed and said no thats were we race, the warmup pool is behind it. and behind meant a mere 1 foot of concrete hand trowled wall.
to this day i am still shocked that anybody "chose" to go there.
now the pool at smu is ok, but the building around it is akin to a shed. the annual feburary DAM meet at perkins is a dice roll on if you freeze before you get into the water because the wind howls through the gaps in the doors and windows. again the quality of swimmers produced there is mind boggling compared to the 70+ year old facilities.
The worst pool I ever competed in was the old USC indoor pool.
the one with the gargoyles in the corners?
i've race in that pool.
the record board was a who's who of the swimming world with records held by goodell, furness, naber....
HA! the pool at texas a&m is far worse. 1st (and only) time i walked into it i asked my coach if that was the warmup pool...he laughed and said no thats were we race, the warmup pool is behind it. and behind meant a mere 1 foot of concrete hand trowled wall.
to this day i am still shocked that anybody "chose" to go there.
now the pool at smu is ok, but the building around it is akin to a shed. the annual feburary DAM meet at perkins is a dice roll on if you freeze before you get into the water because the wind howls through the gaps in the doors and windows. again the quality of swimmers produced there is mind boggling compared to the 70+ year old facilities.
