Skandinavian Masters

hello, finns with fins! If you find yourself in the pittsburgh area during your travels, you guys can come swim with our little masters team. depending on the state of our house renovations at the time--all the construction contractors we've had experience with are larcenous swindlers, so it's proceeding slowly--we may even be able to put you up for awhile. just don't bring any lutefisk as a gift, okay? (or is that sweden?) pittsburgh is not exactly a destination spot for many international tourists, but it has its good points, especially in the summer. keep in touch via this forum; i am sure many swimmers across the US and Canada would be happy to meet and host you guys, provided you offer proof you are not serial killers or, for that matter, construction contractors. congratulations on your excellent times, by the way.

Actually, Ike, I believe your times--only making a joke. In the US, people are wary of letting strangers come into their homes because Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, and assorted other brutal American maniacs have been known to make kind hearted Samaritans regret their generosity. In terms of swimming meets, the spring championships in USA are "short course"--i.e., swum in a 25 yard pool. You might enjoy the summer long course championships, swum in a 50 meter pool, and find these to be a bit more familiar. I don't think even England uses yards anymore; we are somewhat behind the times here by not embracing the metric system. Check out the "places to swim" feature at USMS.org. A personal favorite pool of mine, more for sentimental reasons than anything else, is the Swimming Hall of Fame pool in Ft. Lauderdale. If part of your trip will be spent during the winter/spring, definitely try to spend some time in Ft. Lauderdale--a far cry, I would imagine, from Finlandia in the dead of the polar night. Anyhow, fellow USMS members: Ike seems like a fine guy. Anybody else out there have suggestions for their 3-month American swimming pilgrimage?

Hello Jim! Thanks for your answer! I knew there must be someone who can take a challenge... I don`t know anything about your competitions, but I would really like to join... I`m training again: 5 times/week swimming, 3 times/week cyckling, 3 times/week running. Very basic training: With low heartrates. Looking for masters national championships next spring. I did not quite cath your last sentence, but I can quess! I have to prove my times??? Ok, I will do that. p.s. Lutefish is swedish national dish and smells awfull. p.s.2 Look out for Jere Hard in 50 m fly in Barcelona next week... - ike

how about a few sessions of swimming at Indiana University in Indiana? (Bloomington or Indianapolis?) Aren't the try-outs for the USA Olympic team held there? A possible stop in Colorado at the USA Olympic training facility?

I knew you were only joking. I can understand your attitude towards strangers (after what happened in september 11.). I can only make my self known in these websites and assure you that I am an honest person with honest purposes. The only thing that we(me and my wife) want to do, is to make a trip to your country for at least once in our lives. And meet other swimmers... And I`m also learning alot of english and swimming from you guys. Thank you! Maybe someone can learn something from me too: I have experience of competitive swimming for 35 years now. I`m a coach too. We have a group of 12 children, ages 8-14. Thank you Jim for supporting me. I`ll be in touch and if someone wants to know more about us, you have my e-mail -address. - ike