It’s brought to you by Swim Aid stalker fan, Mike Gustafson, best known from his hilarious contributions to the uber-fab Chlorination. We spent a ton of quality time with good ol’ Gus in Omaha and got to know him rather well. I also had the pleasure of spending 3 loonnnnggg hours in an airport with him on our way back to our respective homes. Layovers pretty much suck, but anyone who can entertain me for that long — that early in the morning — is obviously worthy of your time as well.

So check out his blog at theswimbrief.blogspot.com, and tell ‘em The Swim Aids sent ya.

Not much news has been going on in the swimming world, as you may know. But we Swim Aids can still find stuff to blab about! It’s a gift.

Well, this isn’t a “swimming update” post per se. It’s more like a shout out. A shout out to the current reigning Miss South Dakota. “Why?” you ask. I give you three reasons:

• She’s an accomplished swimmer, holding numerous titles

• She goes to the same school I do, South Dakota State University (I was gonna say SDSU, but let’s not confuse my SD with Kiwi’s SD)

• And well, because we can!

Recently, Alexandra represented South Dakota in Las Vegas, placing in the top fifteen in the Miss America competition. She’s the first person in sixteen years to win Miss SDSU and Miss South Dakota! Girl’s breaking records in AND out of the pool.

So let me introduce you to Miss South Dakota, Alexandra Hoffman:

Height: 6’2
From: Eureka, South Dakota
Trains: During season, about 7,000-10,000 yards/day
Birth date: November 10, 1987
Club:  Eureka Area Swim Team
High School: Eureka High School
College: South Dakota State University
Platform: Don’t Risk It: Keep Sports Healthy

1. When did you start swimming?
I started swimming competitively when I was 6 years old, but have always loved the water since I was a baby.

2. Do you have any swimming rituals, like a certain meal that you eat before a meet?
The only ritual that I have is that I listen to my IPod before I swim. I don’t like to be distracted before I compete, so to help me focus I will usually listen to music & visualize my races.

3. What is your favorite thing about swimming?  Least favorite?
My favorite thing about swimming is that I can pretty much eat whatever I want during the season & never gain weight because we train so hard. I also love the fact that I am able to meet so many people through swimming. My two least favorite things about swimming are actually pretty funny – cold water & dry skin! =)

4. In your swimming career, is there a certain title you’re most proud of? Do you still hold any currently?
There are currently five titles I am very proud of. I hold five school records at South Dakota State University, which is a Division I University in Brookings, SD. I still hold a couple backstroke records from when I was 8 years old. That is pretty remarkable.

5. After college, do you plan to keep swimming at a competitive level?
I have two years left of eligibility at SDSU, & to be honest I don’t know right now what I will do after college. I will probably join a masters team & stay active in the water as much as I can.

6. What are your plans after college?
As of now, I am thinking about going to law school. I will make that decision very soon.

7. Has swimming influenced you with pageants?
And in contrast, has entering in pageants helped you in swimming? Swimming has definetely made me comfortable in my body. When you spend hours a day in a little bathing suit, you learn to become comfortable in your own skin. This has helped me immensely onstage in front of a live audience. In contrast, pageants has really helped me develop that inner ‘sense of self’. I have learned to always give 100% in anything that I am doing, pageants or swimming, and that way you can always look back & say you did your best.

8. You were featured in “Swimming World Magazine” about swimming while living in a rural town – what was that like for you?
Being able to represent swimmers in rural communities was quite an honor. I felt like I really got a chance to share my experience of growing up in a very small community on a small swim team & how the challenges we faced growing up shaped who we are today.

9. Through everything you’ve done, what have you learned about yourself?
I have learned that I am extremely competitive. I think that most of the time it is very healthy to be competitive because it always pushes me to perform at my best.

10. What’s a hobby outside the pool (and stage) you have that not many people are aware of, or something you want to learn or get into once you have more time?
I have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar. I love to sing & play the piano, but I would really love to learn how to play the guitar so I could write songs & perform them. Someday I will!

11. What advice do you have for kids either starting swimming lessons or entering a pageant?
Never give up. Life might sometimes throw you a curve-ball, but you  just have to keep swinging away. I also stress to enjoy what you are doing. If you are not enjoying every single minute of every day, then that is a minute wasted. Life is too short to not enjoy every second!

THIS OR THAT
Pepsi or Coke? Neither! I like Sierra Mist
Scary or Comedy? Definitely a comedy!
Night or Morning? If it isn’t too awful early, usually the morning.
Run or Walk? Run, a walk is too slow for me!
Chocolate or Vanilla? MMM….that’s a tough one. Probably vanilla
Cats or Dogs? I love them both. Dogs are usually more responsive & playful
Rain or Snow? Rain, rain, rain! I am so sick of snow!
Hamburgers or Hot dogs? Hamburger, preferably with Angus beef,tomato, lettuce, onion, & ketchup/mustard
Pen or Pencil? LOL, I would say a pen.

So, shout out to Alex! Way to be a role model in and out of the pool.

P.S. Does anyone else besides me feel so unaccomplished?

I’m all about spreading the love, even for projects that I’m not involved in. So, welcome to “The Pimpin’ Corner”, where I give a little plug to someone or something in the swimming community.

Two of our absolutely favoritest swimmers, Klete Keller and Davis Tarwater, have joined forces to form Big Fish Clinics.

Kletus and T-Dub!! will offer one-day clinics, multiple-day camps, speaking engagements and parent workshops. If I’m a swimmer or a swim parent, I’m all over this. It’s amazing to think that both of these guys’ larger-than-life personalities will be able to fit in the same room in order to conduct a clinic. You will learn and laugh a lot. Seriously. Just check ‘em out!