Speedo Grand Challenge - 2006

Jessica Hardy spins the infamous "Mystery Wheel".

I know it has taken me a while to post and I am a few meets behind but I am working on it I promise! I know a few of you are waiting on the pictures. So I am on it.

This year the Speedo Grand Challenge was over-run with 10x10ft sun shades, blocking the view of the pool, or just taking up space. I had to sit behind the blocks on the wall around the deck on the first day of prelims. Therefore, I didn't go back to prelims the following days. Then during the finals, there were sunshades set up everywhere and many of them only had a couple people under them, or no one at all. I hear a lot of complaints about the lack of support for the sport, and then some events make it impossible to try to be a spectator. I understand the need for shade, but unless you were on a team who happened to have one of these monstrosities, you were out of luck. My suggestion to fix this problem is that the meet admistrators allow the large sunshades only on the top level of the deck seating on the competition pool during finals and as many as they want any time at the warm down pool and during prelims. Or think about starting a collection for a permanent retractable awning system to cover the bleachers because the sun is an issue that is not going to go away. Well... until dark. Heh. It would be a worthy investment.

All of that aside, this is a really great meet. I think the format is interesting. What makes it different is the fact that only four swimmers compete in the championship final. There are always some good races with the prizes for first place ranging between $300 - $1000 depending on the top qualifyer's spin of the lovely and talented "Mystery Wheel". It is fun how the level commitment from people watching gets a little greater when the prizes are more valuable. It is tough to spin the big amounts though. And always a little sad when the winner can't claim the cash prize due to amature status or NCAA eligibility. It was great to see such greats as Jason Lezak, Jessica Hardy, Kate Ziegler and Tara Kirk to name a few.

I got to play with a "real camera" that belongs to my friend Michelle, proving that I have a lot to learn before I can ever use such a beautiful camera. Those are the photos from May 26th. I love so many things about them but they were under-exposed so I had to do a lot of adjusting in Photoshop. It would be great to have that kind of a set up though. But for now I will be happy with my little point and shoot.