Hurricane Man ?

Hi, Yes, I have swum this open water swim for the past three years. It's a fun, well run event with a great breakfast/awards banquet at the Hurricane Man Restaurant at the end of the swim. Our team, St.Pete Masters sponsors it. There is also a 1000 yd. open water as well as the 2.4 miler. Beach start - You swim parallel to the beach from north to south. Not very rough wave wise but there can sometimes be a current. Water temp should be in mid 80's by then. 3 waves leaving 5 minutes apart - age group, masters men, masters women. It's probably one of the more competitive open water swims in the state as a lot of age group , masters swimmers and triathletes participate. Best part is the breakfast afterwards with a full bar and a bunch of endorphin rushed swimmers! This is a very nice area to vacation in - St. Pete Beach area - not a real high rise condo kind of place. Big, white sandy beaches even after last year's hurricanes. Lot's to do in St.Pete/Tampa/Clearwater/Orlando corridor and this is before it gets sticky hot. I say "Go for it"! Shay

Like Sharon I’ve swum this event the last three years. And ditto it is a great event. The name sounds intimidating but it comes from the restaurant we eat at after the swim not the weather conditions. The weather is very predictable that time of year and the last three years the water has been near glass. More like a pool swim than open water. Honestly the pool is rougher at our team workouts. It’s in the Gulf so the water temperature is warm. Too warm for a few. It’s the swimming equivalent of a flat fast run course. Here is the link for Hurricane man registration: home.earthlink.net/.../0505hurricane_man.pdf Discussion at our last SPM team meeting 1/20/05 was that we might fill up this year. So if you're still thinking about it you should go ahead and register early. As far as local activities for a young family there’s too much to list. I highly recommend the Lowry Park Zoo http://www.lowryparkzoo.com Last year Child magazine rate it the "No. 1 Zoo in the United States for Kids." www.sptimes.com/.../Magazine__Tampa_zoo_t.shtml I just took my 17 month old there. She loved it. There is a petting area with goats and definitely feed the giraffes and Lorikeets. Bring the camera cause you’ll never be that close to a giraffe again. In Tampa there is also Bush Gardens, the Aquarium, and MOSI. In St Pete there is Sunken Gardens and Great Explorations next door to each other. Tropical Mother's Day Sunday, May 8, 12-4pm Free admission for moms accompanied by paid child. Bring a picnic lunch and escape to a tropical paradise for the day. Great Explorations is a hands on Museum for kids. www.greatexplorations.org/ If you really want to splurge take mom to the Vinoy for Sunday brunch on Mother day. marriott.com/.../TPASR www.weeklyplanet.com/.../pundit_food6.html In St Pete May 6 the locals will be at - GET DOWN TOWN / First Friday Street party on Central Ave. from 2nd to 3rd St. 5:30 to 10 p.m. on First Friday monthly. Free, live music by Suzette Jennings and Mood Swingz. 727-871-4811. Usually plenty of kids there. Come swim with the Masters at Northshore pool. Check out the St Pete pier and Baywalk . Go to Albert Whitted airport for a site seeing airplane ride in a vintage biplane formally owned by William Randolph Hearst. homepage.mac.com/.../home.html And don’t forget the beaches.