Is the economic downturn affecting your club in any way, such as a decrease in participation, (or even increase if swimming is seen as a cheap pastime, like movie-going and rentals?) Is your club doing anything as a result, or is it preparing for a bad economy in any way? Any drop or increase in meet participation attributed to it?
Tim, this was the first year I went down to the Polar Bear meet. You are absolutely right that more folks from Tucson will come up to the Phoenix area. I think the main reason is that we folks in the greater Phoenix area get spoiled by having meets here and not having to travel. I, for one, will make more of an effort to head to Tuscon and Flag whenever I can to compete.
Both Tucson and Flagstaff hold some really good meets. Coach Jim Stites at Ford Aquatics runs well-organized meets that I have enjoyed being a part of over the years. I highly recommend any meets that he runs down there at the U of A pool.
Flagstaff can be a bit more of a challenge, being at 7000' and all. However, Coach Liz Hobbs ran a Saturday swim clinic and Sunday meet this past October. It was great, the weather was perfect and I drove up to Snow Bowl at the crack of dawn to see the fall colors. People really had a good time though and attendance is building for that event.
The larger point is not to be afraid to get outside your metro area for meets. You may just discover there are some hidden gems an hour or two away.
Tim, this was the first year I went down to the Polar Bear meet. You are absolutely right that more folks from Tucson will come up to the Phoenix area. I think the main reason is that we folks in the greater Phoenix area get spoiled by having meets here and not having to travel. I, for one, will make more of an effort to head to Tuscon and Flag whenever I can to compete.
Both Tucson and Flagstaff hold some really good meets. Coach Jim Stites at Ford Aquatics runs well-organized meets that I have enjoyed being a part of over the years. I highly recommend any meets that he runs down there at the U of A pool.
Flagstaff can be a bit more of a challenge, being at 7000' and all. However, Coach Liz Hobbs ran a Saturday swim clinic and Sunday meet this past October. It was great, the weather was perfect and I drove up to Snow Bowl at the crack of dawn to see the fall colors. People really had a good time though and attendance is building for that event.
The larger point is not to be afraid to get outside your metro area for meets. You may just discover there are some hidden gems an hour or two away.
