BASA 2010 Swimming Christmas Camp
The Bermuda Amateur Swimming Association [BASA] had 45 swimmers sign up to do the 2010 Christmas Camp, with some swimmers doing the whole ten days of training while some did half of the camp and others did half days. Swimmers ranging from 9 years old and developmental level all the way up to BASA’s reigning athlete of the Year Kiera.Aitken took part in the program.
Organizers said “The weather was the worst that we have endured for the Christmas camp and at times it seemed as if we were crazy to have people swimming with driving rain, storm force winds and plunging temperatures. The swimmers stayed focused and trained hard throughout while learning through the experience of challenging practices.”
“This year we had a sports psychologist talk to the group about focus, BCDS came in and talked about drug free sport, we had Yoga sessions and hard core training. After swimming over 90,000 meters over the course of the 10 day camp the swimmers were feeling fit (a little sore) and motivated. On the last day the swimmers proved how hard they had worked when they competed in a time trial event where they raced as fast as they could in two events each.”
“Out of the 62 swims that we had in the time trial 33 of them were personal best times for the swimmer. This was amazing after the grueling training schedule that they endured over the 10 days of the camp. We finished the camp with a friendly football game and it was great to see the smiles on all the swimmers faces as they left at the end of the camp.”
Madelyn Moore dropped nearly 10 seconds from her best time in the 50 free and made another A time. She followed this swim with a 2.48 second drop in the 100 back where she reached another A time.
Shannon Botelho dropped 2 seconds in the 50 free where he reached an A time qualifying him to participate on the National training team and makes him half qualified for Carifta 2001 which will be held in Barbados in April.
In the 50 fly Emma Harvey dropped a second from her previous best and made an A time.
Jesse Washington dropped nearly 2 seconds in the 50 fly where he reaching his second A time standard which makes him eligible for selection to the Carifta team.
On the final day of the camp Brooke DeSilva spoke to a few of the participants:
Nicholas Brando, 8, from the Dolphin Swim Team said his fitness improved from doing the camp and he enjoyed doing the stretches and learning how to do sit-ups and crunches properly. When asked what the most difficult part of the swim camp was, Nicholas replied, ‘doing a lot of sit-ups’.
Madelyn Moore, 10, from the Dolphin Swim Team said the swim camp helped her kick and move her arms faster. Although the weather was very cold Madelyn would definitely do the camp again.
Paige Bruton, 11, from the Sharks Swim Team has an improved kick from working out at the swim camp. When asked what the most difficult part of the camp was Paige replied ‘Getting up early in the morning’.
Michelle Caza, 14, from the Sharks Swim Team was happy with the results from the swim camp stating that doing the camp helped her become a better swimmer and improved her stamina. The most difficult part of the camp for Michelle was waking up every morning on the Christmas vacation to go swimming in the cold weather.
Nick Patterson, 16, from the Sharks Swim Team pushed himself further and harder than he has in the past during the camp. Swimming for four hours straight every day was the most difficult part for Nick but he would definitely do it again.
