Many swimmers I have talked to over the years have said that they would like to race some nonstandard event. Frequently mentioned examples are: a 75 butterfly, a 3-stroke IM, a 25 SDK, or a distance stroke event. Suppose you could enter some nonstandard events at a SCY meet, what would you pick? Perhaps a 2x400 breaststroke family relay? (Count me out on that one, but it does sound cool.) I thought about posting a poll, but it would be difficult to list all of the possibilities and I might miss some good idea, so I'm just inviting free-form response. Second question: would you travel to Philadelphia to swim it?
I love the idea of a pursuit event, but individual (not team) pursuit.
Two swimmers in each lane, starting from opposite ends. The race is over when one catches up to the other (perhaps capping at 500 yards).
Much more strategy in this than in a usual pool race. Do you sprint, trying to catch your counterpart quickly? Pace them, hoping they tire before you? Hold back, trying to entice them into a foolish surge?
The audience gets to watch 8 or 10 head-to-head duels at once.
They actually do this at some of the USA meets - like Sectionals & Sr Champs last summer in Florida. When heat one is just barely past midway on their last lap, Heat two dives in behind them. It's rather interesting, especially when you have someone nearly pass the person who's finishing the race! And the kids have to get out of the water super fast!
I love the idea of a pursuit event, but individual (not team) pursuit.
Two swimmers in each lane, starting from opposite ends. The race is over when one catches up to the other (perhaps capping at 500 yards).
Much more strategy in this than in a usual pool race. Do you sprint, trying to catch your counterpart quickly? Pace them, hoping they tire before you? Hold back, trying to entice them into a foolish surge?
The audience gets to watch 8 or 10 head-to-head duels at once.
They actually do this at some of the USA meets - like Sectionals & Sr Champs last summer in Florida. When heat one is just barely past midway on their last lap, Heat two dives in behind them. It's rather interesting, especially when you have someone nearly pass the person who's finishing the race! And the kids have to get out of the water super fast!
