SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Grunion — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:19:22 GMT

Thanks everyone for the kind words and suggestions. The items you mentioned are the same thoughts/concerns we have. While our least favorite option is to limit the overall number of swimmers we do understand that we will have to do something. There were over 40 volunteers involved in this meet and adding a 4th day will make it more taxing on those individuals but rest assured we will move this meet in the right direction to keep you coming back. Thanks to everyone who attended and if you missed it mark your calendar now for Dec 3rd, 4th, 5th 2010. Kenny Brisbin www.lbgrunions.org Meet Director

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Ahelee Sue Osborn — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:39:34 GMT

Below is the championships wrap-up letter sent by Ken Brisbin and the Long Beach Grunions to all championship participants last night. We have written about The Long Beach Grunions on the forums before and with all the interesting ideas circulating to improve our various championship meets, I'm sure we will again. But I would like to appreciate once more, the interest and care that this organization takes in serving all the swimmers. Sometimes the more competitive or goal oriented we become, the easier it is to forget our new and more novice meet swimmers. The Grunions simply don't forget anyone. Thanks for another great weekend of swimming Grunions! Letter: Hello Ahelee Sue, I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank you for attending the 2009 SPMA Short Course Meters Championship hosted by the Long Beach Grunions. This year we hosted a staggering 650 swimmers over the three days. The increased attendance brought its own challenges and rewards. While our time line suffered a little, your participation elevated this meet to one of top attended regional championship events in the nation. The Belmont Pool continues to draw elite master swimmers from all over North America resulting in over 80 national records and 70 world records. Just as exciting were the number of "first meet" swimmers who we expect will become our future record breakers. This year we also went global with the help from our friends from LiveSwim.net. Almost every event was broadcast live over the Internet. We encourage swimmers to become a sponsor of LiveSwim.net by donating at http://grunions.liveswim.net. Sponsors will receive a CD with all the races captured for playback in full quality. The Grunions are excited to have hosted another successful SCMC. We are equally interested to see what you think, both positive and negative, so please send me your feedback. The complete results are available now at www.lbgrunions.org/results.html. Ken Brisbin Long Beach Grunions Meet Director Long Beach Grunions http://www.lbgrunions.org/

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Former Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:22:25 GMT

I was just looking through the results and WOW that was a fast meet. I swam my personal best in the 100 IM at 1:06.97 and that was only good enough for 9th in my age group!!! Talk about stacked, it took a :58.xx to medal. Amazing. Lots of incredibly fast swims. :applaud:

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Ahelee Sue Osborn — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:02:47 GMT

We were discussing the fact that the SW Zone Championships are now going to rotate between SoCal and Arizona year to year. But no doubt The Grunions will continue to host their winter meet - and at Belmont Plaza as long as it is standing! I'm not likely to ever pass up a Grunions hosted meet - but thats' just me. Most clubs, even some with amazing perfect facilities, are not willing or "able" to host a masters meet.

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Patrick W. Brundage — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:46:59 GMT

But was it raining? To me, that makes all the difference in the world. Cold is bad, cold+rain is worse. Not yesterday. Today, though. And, generally, it rains this first weekend in December and there's a big age group prelims-finals meet and the kids and parents tough it out. Maybe it's the months of baking in the sun that fires the bellies to keep them warm throughout the weekend. Or, they're just tough.:) Hey, I'm totally in favor of indoor racing. I froze my butt off last spring at the Rinconada meet in mid-March (my wife hid out in the locker room in between my events to keep warm). I'm just saying that a 2 x 25 meter course could make the meet run faster and, apparently, no one in the state of California recognized that it actually gets cold there sometimes. (To be fair, neither has anyone in Arizona ... a fact that's even more stupid as October and April are about the only months where it is pleasant to have a swim meet here). BUT, there are a number of beautiful outdoor facilities in SoCal (UCSD?) that could host a bigger meet with 2 courses.

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Allen Stark — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:37:39 GMT

Call me a wimp or a diva,but I don't want to go to a taper meet and be cold and I REALLY don't want to be cold and wet.You can be macho,I'd rather be fast.The Grunions do a great job at the meet and it would be tough to top that,but 4 days might be nice(one day for each BR race after the distance day on Thur.)

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Former Member — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:24:48 GMT

Great meet everybody :applaud: A lot world records, a lot of personal records. It was long, but well worth it ... although my swimmers almost "revolted" on Friday evening at 8:30 pm waiting for the 800 Free relay. Gonna make some suggestions to speed things up at a later point ... The Grunions did a great job hosting the meet as usual.

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Patrick W. Brundage — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:54:39 GMT

No way!!! Belmont is indoors. Irvine is not. Today it is 49 (and that's our HIGH) and raining. I don't think anyone would be comfortable at an outdoor pool today. Belmont may not be warm and toasty, but at least you won't get rained on! I don't think we have an indoor pool in Southern California that is capable of running two 25 m courses. Don't get me wrong. Though I prefer training outside, I prefer racing inside. To shorten the meet, though, you either need to ... Limit participants (e.g., qualifying times), OR Have multiple courses, OR Spread it out over more days As to the temps, we had 14 & unders racing in 37 degrees yesterday outdoors in Arizona. I knew the Californians were soft, but 49 is quite nice. Shoot, chaos swam in 48 degree water yesterday!

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

ourswimmer — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:48:55 GMT

Belmont may not be warm and toasty, but at least you won't get rained on! In my experience, that depends somewhat on where you stand. But yes, I do prefer the "indoor" environment at Belmont at this time of year to a totally outdoor pool. And let me add mine to the voices thanking the Grunions once again for a fine meet. My swimming was not as fast as it might have been, but I'll have to look inward to find someone to criticize there.

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Patrick W. Brundage — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:25:05 GMT

I've still never made it to this meet (though I did enter and intend to go in 2007) primarily because it conflicts with a big age group meet here for my kids. So, the suggestion that will fall on deaf ears would be to move it one weekend later. A serious suggestion, though I know everyone's partial to that pool and indoors and the great job I hear the Grunions do, would be to move it to a facility where you could run two 25 meter courses simultaneously. Then maybe you could expand to 1000+ swimmers and justifiably (if not officially) call in the Masters SCM Nationals. Irvine anyone?

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Ahelee Sue Osborn — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 05:15:53 GMT

I ABSOLUTELY agree that this meet should be a 4 day affair! There was some discussion at the officials table at one point during the meet EHOCH and I was looking around for you to join in with us! There is always a place for constructive criticism and new ideas in the SPMA! We have a new SPMA Chair, Nancy Reno and At-Large, Rob Dumouchel who are both at most meets. Rob has a super excellent SPMA blog at: http://www.robaquatics.com Swimmers should remember that their LMSC works for them and so does the USMS. Keep the communication open so at least your voice is heard.

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Karen Duggan — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:47:36 GMT

The humongous Walnut Creek contingent (all 8 of us!) were discussing how it might be possible to speed up the meet. One suggestion was to put the 1500 on Thursday all by its lonesome. If you're going to let 106 people enter it, and mind you 115 entered the 100 free, then you need to give it its own day. Of course then you're asking to use the facility one more day, volunteers, etc. But if you did that you could move more events to Friday and shorten all the days. Just a thought. I haven't been to that meet in at least 10 years. I must say that the timers were exceptionally friendly. I got so caught up talking at one point I missed the long whistle and said, "I'll be back in a minute!" Major kudos to all of the timers in all of the lanes. They were nice, supportive, and motivational. A great group of people! :angel:

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Former Member — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:16:27 GMT

Awesome swimming in LB everyone! I am motivated again.

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Michael Heather — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 12:51:10 GMT

43 individual WR so far. 645 people entered.

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Allen Stark — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:52:17 GMT

Wow,Bob Strand destroyed his WR's in the BRs,amazing!!

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

The Fortress — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:12:53 GMT

Don't forget the chicks! WRs by Laura Val, Jody Smith and Ahelee Sue Osborne (and maybe others). Is Lisa Dahl not swimming? I saw she swam a 50 free split in the 100 free, but didn't swim the 50 fly ... Nice 100 *** for David Guthrie!

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Robert Strand — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 11:05:06 GMT

My 200 IM was a real disappointment. Wanted to go 2:28 but just did'nt get it done. That said watching the other swims was awesome. When this meet is done the amount national and world records is going to be incredible. I don't want to stir the sh-t to much but the east coast is going to have to really rock to compete with the times plus the depth of Long Beach.

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Patrick W. Brundage — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:04:23 GMT

Wow! Some really fast swimming as expected. I'm only really paying attention to the M 35-39, 40-44 and 45-49, but some smoking swims from some usual suspects: Event 1 Men 35-39 1500 SC Meter Freestyle =============================================================================== WORLD: W 15:58.20 11/20/1999 BOBBY PATTEN, USA NATL: N 15:58.20 11/20/1999 BOBBY PATTEN Name Age Team Seed Finals Points =============================================================================== 1 Kostich, Alex 39 UNAT 16:15.00 15:56.57W 9 Event 1 Men 40-44 1500 SC Meter Freestyle =============================================================================== WORLD: W 16:10.52 12/13/2008 DANIEL SERRA, ESP NATL: N 16:28.84 12/4/2005 MIKE SHAFFER Name Age Team Seed Finals Points =============================================================================== 1 Shaffer, Mike 44 VCM-33 17:15.00 16:09.32W 9 Event 3 Men 40-44 200 SC Meter IM =============================================================================== WORLD: W 2:07.71 12/6/2008 ERIK HOCHSTEIN, USA NATL: N 2:07.71 12/6/2008 ERIK HOCHSTEIN Name Age Team Seed Finals Points =============================================================================== 1 Santos, Roque 41 WCM-38 2:07.95 2:05.46W 9 Event 3 Men 45-49 200 SC Meter IM =============================================================================== WORLD: W 2:10.49 2/15/2009 TAIHEI SAKA, JPN NATL: N 2:13.42 6/22/2008 GLENN MILLS Name Age Team Seed Finals Points =============================================================================== 1 Rasmussen, Anders 46 TXLA-43 2:14.00 2:11.28N 9 28.91 1:02.40 (33.49) 1:40.65 (38.25) 2:11.28 (30.63)

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Michael Heather — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:28:41 GMT

Anyone wanting to watch the meet can see it live here: http://grunions.liveswim.net/

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Patrick W. Brundage — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:57:37 GMT

Anyone wanting to watch the meet can see it live here: http://grunions.liveswim.net/ That's cool. Are live results being posted anywhere?

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Former Member — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:44:35 GMT

Sorry,I have to cancel at the last minute.I just got a call that my son at college is ill and I need to drive up to be with him.I wish I could be there,swim fast. Be safe. Hope you son is better soon!

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Allen Stark — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:12:45 GMT

Be safe. Hope you son is better soon! Thanks,it doesn't sound too serious,but he is worried and needs Dad.

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Allen Stark — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:35:09 GMT

Sorry,I have to cancel at the last minute.I just got a call that my son at college is ill and I need to drive up to be with him.I wish I could be there,swim fast.

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Allen Stark — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:57:29 GMT

Shame on you Glenn! You started this whole warm-up deal and is typical of your "out of step lifestyle". I was going to skip the 50 free on Saturday but now I think I will swim it in hopes a "trimming your sails". Warm-up in competition pool??? We don't need no "stinkin warm-up". Glenn,don't tug on Superman's cape. Also I see we are both in the 100 IM.If I could swim backstroke you should be worried(but I can't,clearly some people have a misguided idea of which is the evilstroke.)

RE: SPMA Regionals - who is ready to swim fast ...

Glenn — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:18:29 GMT

Bob, I've already conceded the 50 *** to you. Don't even bother to show up for the 50 free..........it's mine. Oh, and I went down to LB today to work some of those tricky bulkhead walls.............piece of cake.:D