What Winter Championship meets do you like and why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was invited to turkey claus but then her team backed out because it’s also during Xmas champs. Kind of a bummer since she usually doesn’t get invitationals.

That sucks. Turkey Claus is awesome because they run it like NCI or RMSC Holiday Invite and have prelims and finals, an experience that sometimes the kids at Turkey Claus wouldn’t otherwise get to have. Having meets like that is a good way to keep kids swimming even if they aren’t at the elite level.

Didn't Christmas Champs used to be prelims/finals? That's too bad it's changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid was invited to turkey claus but then her team backed out because it’s also during Xmas champs. Kind of a bummer since she usually doesn’t get invitationals.

That sucks. Turkey Claus is awesome because they run it like NCI or RMSC Holiday Invite and have prelims and finals, an experience that sometimes the kids at Turkey Claus wouldn’t otherwise get to have. Having meets like that is a good way to keep kids swimming even if they aren’t at the elite level.

Didn't Christmas Champs used to be prelims/finals? That's too bad it's changed.

It did, I don’t know why they did away with it this year.

[Anonymous]

I actually know why! So MSSC's (Maryland Suburban Swim Club) - previous christmas champs at fairland hosters - owners sold/cashed out and the team was bought by someone else, and the team is now SA (Suburban Aquatics). A lot of the coaches seem to have stayed as well as the swimmers but I suppose management changed.
I was actually on deck this weekend at the Oddball challenge (at Fairland) and talked to a coach from SA about this and he indicated that since they're starting "new" they didn't want to bite off too much and wanted to keep it simple. They fully intend for the prelims/finals to come back, just not this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually know why! So MSSC's (Maryland Suburban Swim Club) - previous christmas champs at fairland hosters - owners sold/cashed out and the team was bought by someone else, and the team is now SA (Suburban Aquatics). A lot of the coaches seem to have stayed as well as the swimmers but I suppose management changed.
I was actually on deck this weekend at the Oddball challenge (at Fairland) and talked to a coach from SA about this and he indicated that since they're starting "new" they didn't want to bite off too much and wanted to keep it simple. They fully intend for the prelims/finals to come back, just not this year.

Oh, that is good to hear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually know why! So MSSC's (Maryland Suburban Swim Club) - previous christmas champs at fairland hosters - owners sold/cashed out and the team was bought by someone else, and the team is now SA (Suburban Aquatics). A lot of the coaches seem to have stayed as well as the swimmers but I suppose management changed.
I was actually on deck this weekend at the Oddball challenge (at Fairland) and talked to a coach from SA about this and he indicated that since they're starting "new" they didn't want to bite off too much and wanted to keep it simple. They fully intend for the prelims/finals to come back, just not this year.

Oh, that is good to hear.

I hope this is true. My swimmer switched from a Turkey Claus Club to a Christmas Champs Club this year and was bummed that it was not prelims/finals. Also, no t shirts or bag tags! Sometimes, it's the little things that get them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually know why! So MSSC's (Maryland Suburban Swim Club) - previous christmas champs at fairland hosters - owners sold/cashed out and the team was bought by someone else, and the team is now SA (Suburban Aquatics). A lot of the coaches seem to have stayed as well as the swimmers but I suppose management changed.
I was actually on deck this weekend at the Oddball challenge (at Fairland) and talked to a coach from SA about this and he indicated that since they're starting "new" they didn't want to bite off too much and wanted to keep it simple. They fully intend for the prelims/finals to come back, just not this year.

Oh, that is good to hear.

I hope this is true. My swimmer switched from a Turkey Claus Club to a Christmas Champs Club this year and was bummed that it was not prelims/finals. Also, no t shirts or bag tags! Sometimes, it's the little things that get them.

bag tags are huge. every championship meet should have them.

[Anonymous]

What are everyone's thoughts on how the championship meets went this past weekend?

I was pleasantly surprised that parking was great for Turkey Clause.

[Anonymous]

Mako was a CRAZY town. Crowded, crazy, hard to park. I think parents were just getting drunk.

[Anonymous]

Fairland was par for the course. Packed (but able to find parking relatively easily both days), broken vending machines, no swag (last year they were selling t-shirts, etc), no bag tags.

Someone pulled the fire alarm on Saturday before the 13+ but they were mostly still on time. Sunday, they were running about 30m behind.

It was a loooong weekend of swim (also HS meet!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What are everyone's thoughts on how the championship meets went this past weekend?

I was pleasantly surprised that parking was great for Turkey Clause.

I thought Turkey Claus was great! No complaints except for the concessions! lol Thankfully they had parking for Friday and will this weekend for NCI too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What are everyone's thoughts on how the championship meets went this past weekend?

I was pleasantly surprised that parking was great for Turkey Clause.

Turkey Claus was great. Parking was easy and it wasn’t as hot inside the pool as other years. Last year I was sweating to death on the pool deck. I think the ventilation was better or maybe they just turned down the thermostat. My swimmers said the water wasn’t as hot either so that was good for them. They both had a great meet with some fast times.

I hate the drive there. Not looking for to driving back to UMD this weekend for NCAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Do all kids have a meet? What are the better ones? Goals?

IMX is the king of all winter championship meets. It tests the grit, strength and toughness of young athletes. Kids who are successful at IMX go on to great things at the HS and Collegiate levels. Time to drop the focus on 50s/100s and really have our age group swimmers pile on the yardage to get them ready for the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do all kids have a meet? What are the better ones? Goals?

IMX is the king of all winter championship meets. It tests the grit, strength and toughness of young athletes. Kids who are successful at IMX go on to great things at the HS and Collegiate levels. Time to drop the focus on 50s/100s and really have our age group swimmers pile on the yardage to get them ready for the future.

Does anyone else think IMX troll is the same person as the Rockville Rays troll, or is that just me?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do all kids have a meet? What are the better ones? Goals?

IMX is the king of all winter championship meets. It tests the grit, strength and toughness of young athletes. Kids who are successful at IMX go on to great things at the HS and Collegiate levels. Time to drop the focus on 50s/100s and really have our age group swimmers pile on the yardage to get them ready for the future.

Does anyone else think IMX troll is the same person as the Rockville Rays troll, or is that just me?

I think that you are correct. It is so weird the obsession with IMX. I just don't get it. It is a great concept and rewards the all around great swimmer. But it is not necessary for HS or collegiate level swimming --- so it is weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Do all kids have a meet? What are the better ones? Goals?

IMX is the king of all winter championship meets. It tests the grit, strength and toughness of young athletes. Kids who are successful at IMX go on to great things at the HS and Collegiate levels. Time to drop the focus on 50s/100s and really have our age group swimmers pile on the yardage to get them ready for the future.

Does anyone else think IMX troll is the same person as the Rockville Rays troll, or is that just me?

I think that you are correct. It is so weird the obsession with IMX. I just don't get it. It is a great concept and rewards the all around great swimmer. But it is not necessary for HS or collegiate level swimming --- so it is weird.

I agree- It is weird. My kid never qualified for the IMX meet when it was at UMD and was about to swim at the HS and College level