Memorable experience
Senior swimmers share their experience of Iceland during fall meet
It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the Summerside Dolphin Swim Club. Logan Palmer and Abbey Corish were two of the club’s 19 senior swimmers who participated in a camp in Iceland in June. “We soaked in hot tubs, saunas and a spa, and got to see the geysers and waterfall while on the Golden Circle tour. It was really awesome,” admitted Palmer, who was at the First Chance Fall Swim Meet at Credit Union Place on Saturday afternoon.
“It was one of the biggest swim trips that I’ve been on, and it was really cool because it was so different to anything we have done before such as the United States,” added Corish.
“We went swimming outside and it was freezing, but they had hot tubs on the side for the swimmers to warm up during the swim meet.” Practice took place once in the morning and once in afternoon, enabling the swimmers to tour the country, which is awash in natural beauty and deeply rooted in Viking legacies.
“We visited the capital Reykjavik and browsed the church and shops.
“On the last day we swam with a local team, and everyone was really nice and welcoming. All the parents of the local swimmers made a big brunch for us, which was really nice,” chimed Corish.
“We had a bunch of Team Canada sweaters that we made and wore during the extent of the trip, and I still talk to a group of people I met on the last day,” said Palmer.
“But the big thing I noticed about the facilities is that they are beautiful. Swimming in Iceland can be compared to hockey in Canada, it’s a big deal and everyone knows how to swim.” When asked what the major highlight was, both swimmers agreed on the Golden Circle tour.
“It was my favourite day because the terrain is so different, and we saw the big waterfalls and geysers erupt,” said Corish. “Something you wouldn’t see in Canada,” concluded Palmer.
Opening meet
On Saturday, 160 swimmers from clubs in Summerside, Charlottetown and Moncton, N.B., flocked to participate in the season’s opening meet. And despite a brief power-cut, the swimmers were enthusiastic and eager to kick off the new season.
“We have some first-time swimmers that are having a great time.
“My senior swimmers are getting some best times, which proves that they have been working hard over the last month, and I’m also hoping that when we did our trip in Iceland in June that the training will impact this fall,” said Jennifer Power-Hawrylak, head coach of the Dolphin Swim Club.
The next meet called Fall Splash, will be from 8:30 a.m. until 12-noon and 4 until 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17.
The meet will continue on Sunday, from 8:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
The next trip for the Dolphins will be to the Neptune Meet in Montreal, Que., where 800 swimmers will be in attendance. The event will take place from Wednesday Nov. 28, to Monday, Dec. 3.