Hi!
We are an 45/43 year old married couple from Finland, both swimmers. We are planning to came to visit your country (and some of your meets??), year 2005.
We need some help in planning our trip and we also need some contacts from swimmers all over the USA.
We are planning to stay at least 3 months.
My personal bests in swimming 50 m free 25,0. 100 m free 56,1.
100 m *** 1.10,8. 200 m *** 2.40,1.
Last year I swam 50 m free 26,5; 100 m free 1.00,5 and 100 m *** 1.15,3; 200 m *** 2.45,5.
If you are interested in having us as your guests, I`m glad to tell you more...
Please contact with this forum or directly: ikearola@luukku.com
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?
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?
