Now that the major International meet of the year is over, we’re going through a bit of withdrawal already. Yes, the US Open is going on now, but the writing’s on the wall. We’re pretty much not going to have any swimming to follow until October-ish when NCAA season kicks into gear. That’s when we’ll be back to stanning for the Michigan Wolverines, I guess. Different year, same ol’, same ol’.

So, we’re already looking ahead to next summer’s Conoco Phillips Summer Nationals in Irvine, CA. Can anyone say “party”?! Well, we can!

The Swim Aids conquered the 2005 and 2006 Summer Nationals that were held in Irvine and had a blast doing so! Well, except for some unnecessary drama and having to drive on Cali roads (I thought I was going to die). We can’t wait to do it all over again and here’s why:

1. It’s an outdoor meet! Most of us reside in states where meets are contested indoors. So the chance to enjoy swimming outside — and the frolicking that goes along with it — is just wonderful. We don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s that we don’t inhale as much chlorine, but we just enjoy outdoor competitions. We’re more spirited and fun, if you can believe that. Actually, most of us lost our voices cheering during the Irvine ’06 Nationals.

2. In-N-Out Burger. ‘Nuff said.

3. Hot tub parties! The Swim Aids, for some reason, are obsessed with hotel hot tubs and jacuzzi’s. If our hotel has one, you will find us in it every night. That’s not even an exaggeration.

4. Most of the Swim Aids, if not all, will actually be able to make this meet. Our quality time together has been severely limited in the last 1.5 years. We aim to change that as soon as possible!

5. Tailgate possibilities. We’d like to think we were some of the first people to tailgate at a swim meet. Don’t be surprised if we bring that back next summer. Gotta make sure we get clearance/permits/etc. It’d be fun! Our last (and first) tailgate was a success! We had a pretty nice guest list which included Sir Phelps briefly, Katie Hoff, Kaitlin Sandeno, and Davis Tarwater. Debbie Phelps also stopped by and brought us cookies and balloons; which we later fought over. If we end up pulling off an Irvine tailgate, you won’t want to miss it. Trust us!

6. Post meet after parties. There will be some, and if we don’t have one ourselves, we will be cruising for others. Last time out, we partied with the Florida Gators and the Lochtenator. We owed him some Heineken (and still do), so we were able to get him some after the meet. It was a good time until hotel security shut it down! *shakes fist*

So, clearly we’re already psyched about next year! Show of hands: Who’s in?

We constantly have to remind ourselves that there are more people than just us visiting and reading our words.

So, today is the 2nd Birthday of the Swim Aids website. That’s right! We’ve been around for 2 years now! We can hardly believe it! The sport of swimming has a great and loyal fanbase as part of its community and we continue to be amazed by the wonderful people we’ve come into contact with. We hope that never ends! Great people; all of you! So if you see a Swim Aid at a meet, don’t be afraid to come say hello. We love meeting new people!

Thanks to everyone for their support and continuing to visit and contribute. We really do appreciate it and we see you. Here’s to another great year of keepin’ it real!

P.S. There was a special picture we took in our Omaha hotel lobby before I left in the wee hours of the night. It’s very relevant to this post. But I don’t have it. Kiwi does. So if you want to see it, she has to add it. I’m not sure I’d hold my breath if I were y’all

**Pictures**

Made of toothpicks and candy stolen from the hotel restaurant. We are creative like that!

All of us in the hotel lobby at 4am.

This is mostly for the visitors who don’t know what’s up. You’ll all be that much more informed and well-versed on what I do and who I am. That way you don’t register to comment and say things that piss me off. You don’t want to see me mad. Trust.

I thought I’d add a little wintery effect to our home on the interweb. Mostly because of how the warm weather Swim Aids always claim they want snow. (They don’t. They don’t realize you have to drive in it.) So here is their snow. It’s much better this way. Trust me.

Anyway, sorry we are boring again. Lots of training trips about to kick into gear, so not a lot of news.

A few of us will be congregating in H-Town for NYE, so that should be crazy. Don’t expect us to post much evidence of our shenanigans on here. Could be very incriminating. And we don’t need that, do we?

College football bowl season is upon us. So, that’s what’s been occupying most of my freetime. I’m not going to lie.

In other news, our fave CW duo is doing a clinic together today in Virginia. Oh, to be a fly on the wall…

From EmmyMik’s Flickr photostream

It was recently brought to my attention that there was a male swimmer, at Nationals, who was rocking the most amazing and amusing swim cap ever.

I still don’t really remember this, but I won’t say why. That’s none of y’alls business! What happens in the stands during swim trips, stays in the stands!

Anyway, our very own Erika went and found a picture in the hopes that it would jog my memory. It really didn’t. Apparently, we all thought it was the funniest thing we’d ever seen! I’m told we went so far as to figure out said swimmer’s identity (no, we don’t remember anymore), and plotted to create a website for him just because he wore that awesome swim cap. We’ve created website for swimmers for even more bizarre reasons than that. Trust me.

I wish I was kidding with this story, but I’m not. I told y’all we were crazy. Maybe now you’ll believe me!

Anyway, Erika has dubbed this fine young lad her “boyfriend” and thought everyone would enjoy a laugh at our expense, because really, that what’s we’re here for!

You love us. Don’t even front.

FREEDOM!!!

It was a year ago that the Swim Aids were emancipated from evil. And that’s pretty much all we have to say about that. The Swim Aids know what this post signifies. Here’s to many more drama free years girls!

Speedo sent this over today, so we thought we’d post and share with the world!

SPEEDO®, the top-selling swimwear brand in the world, today announced a four-year contract with 22-year-old sprint star Ben Wildman-Tobriner. Earlier this year, Wildman-Tobriner burst onto the international scene swimming a 21.88 in the 50m free to win gold and his first-ever world title at the 12th FINA World Championships in Melbourne in March. In August, Wildman-Tobriner improved upon that time winning the U.S. National Title in the 50m free with a time of 21.80, just missing the American Record by four-one-hundredths of a second. The agreement, which runs through 2010, is designed to help Wildman-Tobriner reach his goals in the water while also supporting his charitable efforts.

Wildman-Tobriner decided to postpone medical school and turn pro following an accomplished collegiate swim career at Stanford University, where he graduated with a degree in biomechanical engineering. At the 2007 NCAA Swimming Championships in Minneapolis, just two weeks before Melbourne, Wildman-Tobriner set a new American Record in the 50 yard free with a time of 18.87. He is aiming to make his first-ever Olympic team in 2008 and will enter next summer’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials as a favorite in the hotly contested 50m free.

Wildman-Tobriner is represented by David Arluck, President and CEO of Arluck Promotions Inc.; the company also represents veteran sprint star and fellow Team SPEEDO® member Gary Hall Jr.

“I am very excited to be joining SPEEDO® at the launch of my professional swimming career,” said Wildman-Tobriner. “I look forward to again showing the world what I can do and I’m grateful for SPEEDO®’s support as I aim for Olympic gold in Beijing.”

“The month of March really put Ben on the map with his incredible performances at NCAA’s and World Championships,” said Stu Isaac, Senior Vice President, Marketing & Team Sales. “SPEEDO® is all about speed and the brand has long worked with the top sprinters in the U.S. We are excited for Ben to join a roster of sprint stars that includes veterans like Gary Hall Jr. and Neil Walker and rising stars like Kara Lynn Joyce.”

As an advocate for the Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco, where he first began swimming at age 12, Wildman-Tobriner remains involved with the chapter’s swim program. As part of the agreement, SPEEDO® will pledge a contribution equivalent to 5% of Wildman-Tobriner’s performance bonuses to the organization. A San Francisco, Calif. native, Wildman-Tobriner, will remain at Stanford University to train with Stanford Swimming.

Wildman-Tobriner won his first U.S. National title in 2005, edging out then-World Champion Roland Schoeman in the 50m free at Nationals. That same year, he won bronze in his specialty at the Duel in the Pool exhibition meet versus Australia. On the international stage in 2006, he took fifth in the 50m free at the Pan Pacific Championships in Victoria, BC.

Team SPEEDO® members include Michael Phelps (USA), Natalie Coughlin (USA), Ian Crocker (USA), Katie Hoff (USA), Kate Ziegler (USA), Ryan Lochte (USA), Jessica Hardy (USA), Tae Hwan Park (South Korea), Libby Lenton (AUS), Leisel Jones (AUS) and Grant Hackett (AUS).

SPEEDO® is a registered trademark of and used under license from Speedo International Ltd.

Warnaco Swimwear, Inc., a division of The Warnaco Group Inc. (NASDAQ: WRNC), is the authorized licensee of the SPEEDO® trademark in North American and the Caribbean.

The college season is beginning and look for us to discuss it a LOT this year. Especially with our never-ending support for the boys up in Ann Arbor. They are gonna tear shit up this year. You just wait!

Kiwi’s gonna be all over the place where Stanford is concerned, starting with this weekend’s Alumni meet. Carrie’s going to show us how her school represents for the Summit League (formerly known as the Mid-Continent Conference). And I’m going to continue my love affair with OSU’s McCorkle Aquatic Pavillion. I don’t really care who is actually competing. I’ll cover it just because of that amazing facility. We’re going to think of other things for the rest of the Swim Aids to do. Three of them are in Texas, so we’re likely going to make them stalk the Longhorns whenever/wherever possible. You know how it is.

The Golden Goggle nominations are going to be coming out within the next week. No doubt we’ll have fun with those, as well as the event itself. Should get some of our random questions answered without having to ask ourselves. *cough*

The 2007-08 World Cup Circuit is about to kick into gear too. Although I missed it not being around last year, it’s not like any of us could have seen any of the meets. The US gave up its rights to host a stop after the 2006 competition in New York. Bummer.

Then a couple of us are looking forward (hopefully) to a trip to Hotlanta for the inaugural Short Course Nationals.

See? It’ll all be better soon! Of course, I don’t know if swimming will be able to successfully steal me back from this year’s football insanity. It’s got me in on lockdown!

Yea, it’s fixin’ to get really busy around here and there’ll be frequent posts aimed to describe our trip. Don’t fret if you don’t “get” a story or don’t laugh out loud. You had to be there for a lot of it.

Also, after this meet, Club Wolverine may not “own” us as much as they previously did… or at all! We’re pretty disappointed with their out-of-the-pool conduct. Especially the “King of Crackers”. If you don’t know who “The Cracker” is, that’s ok. He does, and he knows what he did. He’s a bright kid.

We still love Bob, though! “The Bob Blog” could be a reality. No, really. You don’t even know!

And now I leave you with a quote that pretty much sums up our week in Indy:

I miss Kaitlin

At the end of prelims, the oh-so-wonderful Peter Bick escorted us waaaaay up to the catwalk in the natatorium. It’s pretty much like the rafters. It was so hot and humid up there, but really cool! Check out our latest Swim Aid adventures.

P.S. If you’re here visiting to check and see if we’re posting copyrighted material (e.g. video), you’re wasting your time. We know what we are and aren’t allowed to use, so no need to police our site and be fun ruiners. We’re credentialed media for a reason. kthanx.