Let me answer your questions this way. If I had an interest in other forms of exercise to supplement my swimming, I'd buy a book or magazine on that topic. I don't need my swimming magazine, published 6 X a year to have it's feature story on water aerobics.
And, since you asked about my 100 free time I'd much rather have the featured cover story in a swimming magazine dedicated to a total strategy for the 100 with input from some of our better swimmers (Smith, etc) and coaches (Kerry O'Brien, apologies for spelling).
I totally disagree that we should stoop to a group that will never swim for fitness or in meets to increase membership. That's not what I want USMS to be. We gonna have noodling classes at Nationals? Might be ok if beer were involved. You can't be all things to all people and I think concentrating on the fitness and competitive bunch is perfectly fine.
I'm starting to understand Smith's poll better and better now.
Originally posted by aquageek
There is no more important item for a magazine than the cover, that's the hook. The cover of the magazine that represents tens of thousands of swimmers, fitness and competitive alike, chose to put a water aerobics class on it's front. It's an entirely different set and type of swimmer. I have witnessed a bunch of floater classes and have never seen one of those folks lap swim and vice versa so what is the point of this cover shot?
The only problem, IMHO, is that USMS Swimmer is NOT sold on a newstand or at a bookstore (or at least that I've found). People pick up single copies of magazines based on the cover. Those who have a subscription, which is what most of the people on this board have, receive the issue no matter WHAT the cover is.
Originally posted by scyfreestyler
USMS consists of all kinds of members. Not all of them swim paced workouts and even fewer actually compete. The magazine needs to consist of content that applies to all of it's members, not just the race ready crowd.
There are tens of thousands of former age group, high school and college swimmers that would benefit from a healthier lifestyle and could be recruited to join USMS. Every publication has a target audience. I suppose I might read Cycling or Runner's World if either included features on competitive swimming. I guess I just thought that a more appropriate cover photo for May/June might have been Rich Abrahams or one of the other swimmers heading to Nationals.
Originally posted by Paul Smith
It appears that the two swimming publications (USMS/Swimming World) are trying to distinguish themselves...SW seems to be focusing more on masters competition, USMS on the fitness swimmer.
Perhaps we should rename the organization USFS (United States Fitness Swimming). Many fitness/lap swimmners are intimidated by the term "Masters."
I'm really surprised that anyone has their mag already. I won't get mine until at least nerxt Saturday, but probably not until May 1st.
I don't understand how people who proclaim their love for swimming don't rejoice the different aspects of swimming. I have a wonderful friend who was a teacher to many people my age (48). She had a stroke. Because of her stroke, she is no longer able to swim laps. However, she still goes to a pool to workout every day. It takes great courage for her to get through all of the difficulties she undergoes to get to her workout. I also know other women who would not regularly exercise if it weren't for aquafitness classes. Sometimes, I am annoyed by their complaining about me splashing them, but they aren't sitting at home lonely!
Originally posted by gull80
Perhaps we should rename the organization USFS (United States Fitness Swimming). Many fitness/lap swimmners are intimidated by the term "Masters."
Perhaps "we" should recognize that Masters is not just about competition and pace clocks.
http://www.usms.org/about.php
The above link states what USMS is all about and fitness swimming is one of the purposes of the organization. I think what this boils down to is tolerance and respect. We might not all be interested in the fitness aspect of USMS but they pay their dues (which includes a magazine subscription I might add) so they have just as much right to the benefits of the organization as those who compete on a regular basis.
Sorry for the rant.
Originally posted by aquageek
Now here we go, those of us who think water aerobics shouldn't be on the cover of a swimming magazine aren't being respectful or tolerant of others. I'd hazard a guess that a minute fraction of USMS members even go to water aerobic classes or use those classes as their sole form of water exercise. It's called USM SWIMMING. Floating with a belt and flippers, no matter how strenuous, is not swimming either for fitness or competition.
I wonder if there is a water aerobe association and they put a picture of a swim meet on their cover this month? I hear competition swimming is a good way to supplement floating.
Let me ask you something...why are you so worked up about the photo on the USMS Swimmer cover? Does it affect your 100 Free time? Does it prevent you from attending your next meet? Will you now hide your head in shame when somebody points you out as being a USMS member?
Is USMS even available on newsstands? I thought it was only distirbuted to USMS members. Having said that, perhaps USMS is looking to boost membership by including the fitness/noodler types in it's magazine. Is that a crime? More memberships means more income and more funds available for USMS activities. Certainly we can all appreciate that.
So according to Craig and Matt, by criticizing the cover/content of USMS Swimmer, I am displaying insensitivity toward the disabled and being intolerant of fitness swimmers. Here's a news flash--I pay my dues too, and as a member of USMS who chooses to train seriously and compete, I find Swimming World a lot more relevant.
Originally posted by Swimmer Bill
The reason for mentioning Katz was to shed a little ray of light on the poorly conceived point -- brought to us by people who haven’t even read the article -- that no serious swimmer does water aerobics. Katz is a serious swimmer. She does water aerobics.
If you are going to criticize my criticism please get my criticism critically correct. I have no problem with an article in a swimming magazine that show benefits of other forms of exercise, including noodling. What I have the issue with is putting this on the cover of a magazine that is geared towards swimmers, both lap, fitness and competitive.
I'm glad Katz is a serious swimmer and a serious noodler. I'd be a serious noodler also if they'd put cup holders on the floaty belts.
