News from COMSA

A few COMSA members attended the USMS convention (as part of the US Aquatic Sports Convention ) held yearly in the fall. Some highlights from the convention are listed in an article below.
Two innovative meets/events are listed below; The 400 Kick for Time and the Butterfly is not a Crime events. Challenge yourselves in a different way as part of a workout or as a group just for fun. Send pictures if you participate in either event!!

Pool events (meets) are starting this month. Check for entry deadlines, as some are quickly approaching!

Have a spooktacular October!

Heide Crino

Photo from Chatfield Gravel Pond

Suzanne Olzak, Melissa Nolte and Jenny Guillot

USMS Convention

Pat Burke and Peggy Buchanan

United States Masters Swimming hosts a convention and meetings of the House of Delegates in the fall of each year. During the convention, the yearly budgets are approved, elections of officers may take place, organizational rules and bylaws may be amended, and the general direction of the organization is set for the coming year. The USMS Convention is held as part of the annual US Aquatic Sports convention, together with USA Swimming, USA Diving, USA Synchronized Swimming, and USA Water Polo. This year 8 members of COMSA attended the convention.

Some decisions included:
USMS is committed to continuing open water events. Insurance coverage, for people and events, is being discussed presently.

BREADBASKET ZONE (COMSA is a part of)
Breadbasket Zone Pool Championship:
Mesa State University Pool
Grand Junction, CO March 28-30, 2014

Breadbasket Zone Open Water Championship:
Lake Minnetonka. Minnesota
1st week in September 2014
1 mile and 2 mile events.

Open Water National event discussed:
Lake Minnetonka 5 and 10 mile event ******Date to be determined.

Newly appointed Zone chair Lori Payne

CHAMPIONSHIPS
2015 Nationwide USMS Spring National Championships
April 23-26, 2015
Northside ISD Swim Center San Antonio, TX

2015 USMS Summer National Championships
SPIRE Institute
Geneva, Ohio

for more convention information and minutes

Mastering Masters

Now Enrolling for Fall 2013
Mastering Masters Class

...please join us for the Fall 2013 Mastering Masters Class!
This course is designed for fitness, lap and tri-athlete swimmers that want to learn the nuances of a Masters workout so they can feel comfortable 'before' they join a Masters workout group.
Swimmers will attend six-weeks of class and pool instruction and graduate with the confidence and class skills to join any USMS masters program.
Classes fill up fast so don't get left out! Sign up today!
Learn the many advantages of swimming in a group atmosphere with others that share your same interests.
Make the commitment to swim better in 2013!

Tuesdays October 15 - November 19, 2013
7:00 - 8:15 PM
Registration ends October 10, 2013

Thornton Recreation Center
11151 Colorado Blvd Thornton, CO 80233
(303) 255-7800

Coach: Carol Craft
Cost: $70 COMSA Members
          $85 Non COMSA Members

For more information please visit us at:
www.comsa.org/masteringmasters/index.html

Mastering Masters is an: "Introductory Course Developed to Provide Confidence, Understanding and Class Skills for Swimmers to become Masters Swimmers."

view flyer

Fantasy Camp November 8-10, 2013

The USA Swimming Foundation is hosting its first annual Fantasy Camp for triathletes and masters swimmers here at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO November 8-10. Proceeds from the Fantasy Camp benefit our Foundation and our learn-to-swim initiative, Make a Splash. The camp features a long weekend stay at the Olympic Training Center where participants will eat, train and live like a national Team athlete - a once in a life-time experience! The camp is coached by Olympic coach David Marsh and features Olympic gold medalists Janet Evans, Ricky Berens, Rowdy Gaines, Mel Stewart and Garrett Weber-Gale. More details about the camp are listed in the attached sample itinerary.
Sample Itinerary Fantasy Camp

We think this Camp will be a great fit for Colorado Masters Swimming! We have partnered with US Masters Swimming and are offering 10% off registration for any USMS member as this is an official USMS sanctioned event. Swimswam.com just did a great article on the event http://swimswam.com/usa-swimming-foundation-fantasy-camp-now-a-u-s-masters-swimming-sanctioned-event/

Here is our website with more information about the camp
www.usaswimming.org/fantasycamp

Registration for the camp has been extended to October 7th so we are quickly approaching the deadline and want to make sure everyone locally has the opportunity to learn about the this amazing opportunity!

If you have any questions or need any more for information, you can reach me at 719.866.3583 or through this email at voswald@usaswimming.org.

As an added bonus, $1500 of the fee is tax-deductible as proceeds benefit the USA Swimming Foundation (501(c)3).

Valerie L. Oswald
USA Swimming
1 Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
719.866.3583

400 Kick for Time

Coaches and swimmers: Why not challenge yourselves or your team to a :

   Rules:
1. Must use a kick board.                   7. Swimmers who change age
2. No "stroking" into the wall.                  groups during the event may
3. No flip turns.                                         enter and pay twice, once in
4. You may do the 400KFT in any           each age group.
    25 yard pool.                                   8. One watch per swimmer.
5. Must be completed between           9. No fins allowed.
    Dec1, 2013 and Dec 31, 2013      10. Two kickers per lane max. no
6. Entry must be submitted                     circle swimming.
    online or received by mail
by January 17, 2014

AWARDS:
Unique and fabulous 400KFT Awards for the first three finishers in each age group.

FEES:
Entry fee $ 10.00
Event T-Shirt $ 20.00 including shipping
(two color screen, white short sleeve 100% cotton)

ONLINE ENTRIES:
Register online at Club Assistant by searching for the "400Kick for Time" under events.
http://www.clubassistant.com/meets.cfm

PAPER ENTRIES
Request a paper entry form by sending a SASE to Marcia Benjamin, 769 Rodney Dr. , San Leandro, CA 94577-3826. Checks are payable to MEMO Swim Team.

RESULTS:
Complete Results will be available by mail or online. Preliminary results will be posted on the PACMasters website at www.pacificmasters.org by January 22,2014, for two weeks. All corrections must be sent to the event director during those two weeks. Final results will be posted approximately one week later.

LAST YEARS OVERALL WINNERS:
Women: Arlyn Upshaw, 18 (UNAT) 5:17.35
Men: Chris Stevenson, 48 (VMST) 4:52.16

swimmingismylife.marcia@gmail.com

Butterfly Is Not a Crime - Postal Event
October 15, 2013 - August 31, 2014

2013-2-14 Butterfly is Not a Crime™ Postal Swim

Oct 15, 2013- Aug 31 2014

Distance is relative, to some 500 yards is a sprint, to others an eternity. Why do freestylers have all the fun?

Host: Warrenton Masters Swim Team, Warrenton, VA Meet Director: Charlie Tupitza

Objective: To promote health, wellness, fitness and competition for adults through swimming.

Goal:Promote alternative stroke swims of butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke for distance events. Encourage swimmers to have fun and participate in unique events that challenge them to do something they thought they couldn't.

Location: This is a postal event. A venue is not provided. Pool Events may be swum in any 25-yard, or 25m short course pool during a swim meet, practice, or on your own with someone on the deck. See Rules below for more requirements. Open water swims must only be swum in separately sanctioned USMS or FINA events for your safety and recognized in this postal event.

Events:

Sprints:

500 yard Butterfly 400m SC Butterfly

500 yard Back 400m SC Back
500 yard Breast 400m SC Breast

Mid Distance:

1000 yards Butterfly 800m SC Butterfly
1000 yards Back 800m SC Back
1000 yards Breast 800m SC Breast

Distance:

1650 yards Butterfly 1500m SC Butterfly
1650 yards Back 1500m SC Butterfly
1650 yards Breast 1500m SC Breast

Open Water:

1-mile open water Butterfly 2-mile open water Butterfly

800 m Butterfly 1500 meters Butterfly 3K Butterfly 5K Butterfly

Individual Medley:

1500 Yards no-crawl IM 1500m SC no-crawl IM

Swim in the order you want!

Sprint Relays:
3x 500yd Butterfly Mixed 3 x 500yd Back Mixed 3x 500yd Breast Mixed
3 x 500m SC Butterfly 3 x 500m SC Back Mixed 3x 400m SC Breast Mixed

3 x 500yd No-Crawl Medley Mixed 3 x 400m SC No-Crawl Medley Mixed
Swim stokes in the order you want for medley relays!

meet website http://swimflyfast.com/

Planning Ahead:

COMSA state meet will be held in Grand Junction, Co.
March 28-30, 2013

Spring Nationals will be held in Santa Clara,CA May 1-4, 2014

Summer Nationals will be held in College Park, Maryland
August 13-17, 2014

Local and National Swimming Links

http://usopenwaterswimming.org/

Breadbasket Zone
http://www.iowamasters.org/
http://www.minnesotamasters.com/
http://www.movymasters.org/
http://www.nebraskamastersswimming.com/
http://www.ozarklmsc.org/

What's Happening at U.S.M.S.

As members of COMSA, you are also members of U. S. Masters Swimming. Check that website for information on Fitness Events, Coaching tips, Competitions nation wide, and many other areas of interest to swimmers everywhere .... U. S. Masters Swimming