Monday, September 28, 2009

U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY DIVING WELL


The United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD just completed a large renovation to their diving well that included re-habbing the platforms and building a new 3M Springboard pedestal and installing all new Duraflex Equipment.

Rumor has it that long-time diving coach Joe Suriano has a smile from ear to ear!! Looks like it was well worth the wait!! CONGRATULATIONS, JOE!!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

The Fastest Growing High School Sport in the USA!

The National Federation of State High School Associations reported that participation in high school sports never has been higher. In fact, the report they recently released shows that Swimming and Diving had the largest increase in the number of participants this year versus last year.

The highlight of the report (from a shameless diving promotion angle!!) was Swimming and Diving gained the most combined participants last school year. The combined sports had an increase of 29,967 students. Outdoor track and field had an additional 19,396 participants, followed by cross country with 18,193. Lacrosse had an additional 9,579 participants.

Read the complete article as written in the Cincinnati Enquirer on Sunday 9/21/2009.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

NEVER GIVE UP!


While attending the 2009 United states Aquatic Sports Convention in Chicago, IL I had the honor and pleasure of sitting in on a forum hosted by Olympic Gold Medallist Laura Wilkinson (USA) and 2x Olympic Silver Medallist Alexandre Despatie (from Canada).

The two of them fielded questions from the packed house audience for a good 1.5 - 2 hours about anything and everything related to their diving careers. They answered every question -- whether about training, mental preparation, fear, exercise, competition, diet, burnout, sleep patterns, etc. with honesty and with a few funny anecdotes scattered throughout. (i.e. Alex going to "The Dark Place").

The underlying theme I took away from both of them was to NEVER GIVE UP. Everybody in the diving community knows the success these two have enjoyed but often times do not realize nor comprehend the amount of work, sacrifice, time and effort that went into those successes. Along the way, there were many set backs where they could have easily quit and just walked away. But great champions never quit -- they never give up. They keep working and working and working and as the old saying goes: "The Cream Always Rises to the Top"!


(The photo above shows Laura Wilkinson holding her Gold Medals from the Olympic Games; The World Championships and The World Cup -- the only female diver in history to win all three.)

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Alaska's Only Outdoor Diving Board?


It might not be the be the best place to hold your college diving team training trip, but if you are looking for a spectacular get-a-way for rest and relaxation (and a little "chilly" springboard diving) why not check out "Quiet Place" -- a secluded Bed 'N Breakfast in Halibut Cove, Alaska.

The only way to get here is by boat or float plane. Your host is Harmon Hall and family. Son Garrett is a diver at a nearby high school in Homer, Alaska. Harmon decided to install a Durafirm "Short Stand" with a 16' Modified Maxiflex Model "B" Cheeseboard so his son could practice during the summer. Guests of "Quiet Place" Bed 'N Breakfast are also welcome to sharpen their diving skills while staying on site.

"Quiet Place" is only open from mid-June to mid-August and is sold out up to one year in advance. Water depth beneath the diving board varies from 10 feet to 40 feet deep (depending on the tidal pool). Oh yeah -- one more thing -- the water temperature is "balmy"45 - 50 degrees in the summer.

Wetsuits available for those who dare.

Visit http://www.quietplace.com/.