Waikiki Swim Club

From the President

Aloha Waikiki Swim Club members, friends, and family. What a great start to the new year we have had in 2003. It began with a successful Magic Island Biathlon, followed that same day by an enjoyable evenig at the Waikiki Yacht Club for our annual banquet, and finally with a great turnout for the Valentine's Day Biathlon. The Fin Swim on April 19th and the Underwater Easter Egg Hunt should keep the momentum going until our summer season of non-stop ocean swimming and racing begins.

All of the races and activities could not be possible without the help of many volunteers, and especially the race director or coordinator. In order to recognize the volunteers, we are going forward with three new ideas for 2003. First, we will be providing reusable safety vests with our name and logo on them for the race director and other officials at each race. This will help participants find officials and help with safety of officials in the water and on the road. Secondly, the race director will receive a certificate for one free race in the next year that he or she can give out to the outstanding volunteer for each race. Ideally, we would like to have an assistant raced director for each race. They would then know how to step up into the race director position in the future. Third, and best of all, the Club will provide a pizza party at the end of the summer season for all of the volunteers to celebrate a year of accomplishments.

Happy Swimming!

Cheryl

2003 Tentative Swim Schedule

Apr 19, Sat. Fin Swim

May 18, Sun. Popoia

Jun 28, Sat. Summer Sprint

Jul 12, Sat. Haleiwa Swim

Jul 26. Sat. Waimea Bay Swim

Aug 9, Sat North Shore Challenge

Sep 1, Mon. Waikiki Roughwater

Sep 13, Sat. Shipwreck

Dec 20. Sat. Christmas Biathlon

Easter Egg Hunt

Don't forget. The annual Easter swim and egg hunt will be on Easter Sunday, April 20. The Swim starts at 8:00 am with egg hunt to follow and potluck picnic.

WSC Annual Banquet

The WSC Annual Banquet was a great success again this year. Held on Sunday, January 19, 2003 at the Waikiki Yacht Club, we had over 80 people attend. Pat Wiencke and Barb Germann did their usual good job in organizing this event, and everyone enjoyed the good food and comaraderie of fellow club members.

The Humu Cup was awarded to Jim Wiencke this year. Male and Female Swimmer of the Year awards went to Joe Lileikis and Samantha Moran respectively. Barbara Germann, who has served as VP Social Activities for the past two years, was awarded the Spirit of the Humu Award. Congratulations to all.

Outgoing President, Marie Wagner, thanked her fellow Board members for their assistance during 2002. Her fellow officers were: Co-President Tom Burke, VP Race Operations Chad Harrison, VP Social Activities Barb Germann, Pool Commissioner and Inter-Club Liaison Cheryl Henry and Treasurer - Jim Wiencke.

Special thanks to Marie Wagner for her hard work and dedication this past year.

The 2003 slate of officers was approved by the members in attendance. Serving on the Board for 2003 will be:

President Cheryl Henry

VP Race Operations Jim Wiencke

VP Communications Susan Schenck

VP Social Activities Sharyn Klafehn

Pool Commissioner and Inter-Club Liaison Linda Moran

Treasurer Rick Fontaine

BeachCommissioner BobJustman.

Jellies Warning

March 26, 27, 28

April 24, 25, 26

May 24, 25, 26

June 22, 23, 24

Humu History

By Steve Rudolph

1972

The club started off 1972 in great style with champagne on the beach at Ala Moana as a weekly prize for winning the swim ladder. Tom Mahoney was most consistent winner - or maybe it only seemed that way since he had a "2 quart" glass that always needed refills.

The first North Shore Swim took place at Haleiwa - a 2 miler on February 19!! There were 5 swimmers including only one woman, Natalie Naugle.

May 6 was the first Rabbit Island Swim which ended at someplace called "Turtle Lagoon". There was much speculation about, and research into, sharks by Jim Cotton before the swim. Eve Anderson hosted the picnic at her place in Waimanalo (The Magnum PI house).

1972 was definitely pre-Casio. The first major problem of the year was how to control "undisciplined swimmers" from crowding around the time keepers and dripping on pages after they finished.

John Wilcox was the first WSC member to break 30 minutes with a 2K time of 29:46. Later in the year Bill Goding dethroned John with a 2K time of 29:25. And that was before Bill started going fast!

May was also the first Nationals attended by Club members. It was held in San Mateo, CA. Judy Rasmussen (25-29) got a 2nd in the 100 fly and Jim Welch (50-54) won four 1st places.

The Club finally started to take shape with the election of officers for 1972-1973. Jim Welch was elected our first "Chairman".

September saw Harry Huffaker swim the Molokai Channel "the other way" (Oahu to Molokai) in 16 hours. The year ended with a Pizza Handicap Swim - pizza supplied by Shakey's (that goes waaay back!)

Jim Welch was kind enough to point out that it was not him but Fred Trask who did all of initial measuring for the 1K and 2K courses in 1971. Mahalo nui loa Fred.