Club News
The 2008 Steve Barden Memorial Open Water Swim and Swim Meet in Asheville, NC was a great success. This is the only Masters meet that offers an open water mile and half mile along with a swim meet. This meet is a memorial meet to embrace the memory of Steve Barden one of the founders of Masters swimming in Asheville and a prominent member of the local community.
Swimmers in the open water swims were greeted by a beautiful day and cool morning with ducks and kayaks for company as the sun came up over Enka Lake in the Biltmore Lake Subdivision. The mists of morning fog made the swim look like an idealized Norman Rockwell painting of a simpler yesteryear. The Local Warren Wilson swim team competed in the swim and the overall winner was their coach Andrew Pulsifer. It is hoped that other local college teams will swim next year. There is already discussion of recruiting Mars Hill College's team to swim the entire meet. Everyone plans on returning next year and many of the half mile swimmers plan on competing in the longer distance.
The Masters Swim meet was held on the idyllic campus of The Asheville School. It is a private boarding school that evokes memories of elite private prep schools in the northeast. A 25 yard pool with glass windows and doors overlooks the school's lacrosse and soccer fields where many families and children played while parents and grandparents competed. The competition was fun with many swimmers trying new events or distances.
Attendance was affected by the concerns about the economy and the gas outages, but it looks like next yearŐs meet will continue to grow like it has the past two years. Be sure to make a note to compete next year and enjoy all of the nature, attractions, architecture, fine dining, arts, and fun available in the Asheville area. For the past two years, the popular Brewfest Festival has coincided with the meet.
ASHEVILLE MASTERS SWIMMING
Website by Nathan Hart - flyguy1992@bellsouth.net
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