New session starts July 1

A bit early, but it never hurts to get a reminder - the new session starts July 1 and sign up begins two weeks prior. The Y will try to make it possible to register online by that time (big yay!). We'll keep you posted...

Underwater videotaping session June 3

Igor's bringing his underwater video camera again! For those of you who did not get taped the last time, you'll get another chance this coming Sunday. Please arrive as early as possible, starting at 5 pm so that we can get as much of the taping done as possible before the regular workout from 6 to 8 pm.

Cristian & Patricia to swim the Potomac

Take a look at this swim that Cristian and Patricia are attempting and will no doubt finish in grand style this Saturday, June 2. The swim is a 7.5 mile crossing of the mouth of the Potomac River where it meets the Chesapeake Bay and divides Virginia's Northern Neck from Saint Mary's County, MD. The swim benefits the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin, the Southern Maryland Sierra Club, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Potomac River Association, the Potomac River Conservancy and the West Virginia Rivers Coaltion.

Don't party too hard at the pre-swim dinner, put on lots of sunscreen and swim your heart out, guys! Good luck! We're cheering for you!

SCAQ Swim Club Site

Found a great swimming blog recently, created by a member of the Southern California Aquatics Masters Swim Club. He's got great pictures, videos, and interesting commentary on all things swimming. I've also included a feed on the right that points to the blog's most recent postings. Check it out!

Floating Pool in Brooklyn to open July 4

This must be our our lucky year...a floating pool is coming to Brooklyn on July 4th. According to a May 4 article, the public pool "will open for the summer on the East River between Brooklyn Heights piers 4 and 5....The Floating Lady’s pool can accommodate 174 people, though 400 can be onboard the barge, which will also have a children’s pool, a snack bar, changing rooms and showers. " See more pictures on the Neptune Foundation's site.

New 50-meter pool coming to town!

That's right - a brand spankin' new 50-meter pool is currently being constructed and is set to open this fall in Flushing Meadow Corona Park. "But that's in Queens!" you're probably exclaiming to yourself. Check out the details about the pool and you might soon find yourself echoing the sentiment of one New York Magazine writer instead: " We're looking forward to toting our flippers and goggles on the 7 train."

According to a press release from the parks department, this will be the largest recreation facility ever built in a City park. It will "house an Olympic-size pool and a NHL-standard ice rink. The public pool and ice rink will serve as a year-round facility for competitive and recreational use...The building is uniquely designed with a cable supported roof system that will allow for potential expansion to a larger venue...The pool and diving tank will be on the second floor with dramatic views of the park. The movable floor makes the Olympic-sized pool very flexible, creating the potential to have recreational swimming and competitive events simultaneously. An outdoor terrace will be accessible from the pool deck."

Here are some more pictures from the architects of the new facility and from the parks department.

Kudos!

Congrats to David (our "swim meet director") and Judy for competing in last Saturday's SCY meet at Yonkers. It was Judy's first meet (yay, Judy!) and David swam the 500 free and 100 fly (100 fly? who does that? :P), among other events. Will update this blurb once the results are posted.

And, Congrats to Cristian who competed in the Tenth Annual 24 Mile Tampa Bay Marathon Swim on April 21 as part of the two-swimmer team "Los Dos Conquistadores de Brooklyn".

Calling all open water swimmers

Summer's coming and that means lots of open water swimming. Cristian's been enthusiatically handing out "his cards" at practice (he likes to leave out the part that Christina was the one who did the design :) but I have heard from Patricia that Cristian does indeed organize some majorly fun swims). Just in case you haven't gotten a card, you can go to cibbow's race page for more info on how to register. Or....just ask Cristian!

First Friday Night Social - April 27

From Patricia: This Friday will be our first in what I hope will be many socials. After lively debate (sorry Christina) I've chosen Angelo's Pizza as our place to meet after practice this Friday. Some of you will be competing the next morning, so what better way to carbo load than a big pepperoni pie? One of the topics we'll be discussing (besides why swimming at the Y is better than swimming the Amazon) is an official team name. So bring your ideas to the table--I'll buy the most creative a beer!

When: Friday 4/27 after practice (probably around 9:15-9:30)
Where: Angelo's Pizza at 1043 Second Avenue (55th street)
Who: Lovers of the aquatic

See you there!

Awww...don't we look cute :)

More views from the deck on the right!
Underwater pics coming soon...

Upcoming Meets

April 28 - Yonkers SCY Meet
Entries due April 20

David's email:

Hi Everyone,

Hopefully you are able to attend the upcoming Yonkers Masters "International Pride" swim meet. The entry deadline is this Friday 4/20. The information you will need to register is posted below. Please note, you need a USMS registration card to compete. I will be driving to the meet and can take 3 or 4 people who need transportation. It would be great to organize a relay race for our group if enough people register to compete. Please let me know if you will be attending and if you need transportation. If you can't make it to this meet, the next one is on May 6th in NYC so hopefully more people will be able to attend.

Best regards,

Your "swim meet organizer",
David Mishkin

May 6 - NYC SCY Meet and Commissioners Trophy Relay
Entries due April 16

Entry Forms

Registration Reminder

Registration for the May-June session begins April 16. The fee is $60. Please sign up as soon as you can!

About our members

Our team welcomes swimmers of all ages (18+), abilities and goals. Among us are competitive pool swimmers, open water swimmers, triathletes, and general fitness swimmers. We have folks who have been swimming for most of their lives and some who are just getting comfortable with all four competitive strokes.

Our team boasts World champions, National champions, All-American record holders, Manhattan Island Marathon swimmers, English Channel and the Strait of Gibraltar crossers, Polar Bear swimmers, and former high school and collegiate swimmers. For the rest of us, our laurels lie in making all intervals within a workout, mastering weird stroke drills, holding a handset for 15 seconds, and doing pretty dolphin dives, among other things...

About our coach (he's the best!)

Igor Shoukhardin has been coaching swimming for over 38 years. A former Olympian himself, he has developed eleven Olympic, World, European, and University Games Medalists. He has a Ph.D. in Sports Science & Biomechanics and has researched the most efficient ways of achieving swimming propulsion and endurance.

Just testin' out the wares...

Michael Phelps getting his seventh gold at Worlds in the 400 IM