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QUEEN CITY SPLASH & SKI 2000 A SUCCESS, RECORD BROKEN

Over 150 swimmers ages 22-91, attended the annual Seattle Orca Swim Team's Queen City Splash & Ski events over the weekend of Jan 14-16th, 2000. Swimmers from Washington state and from all over the western United States and Canada, including, Albuquerque, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, and Vancouver were in attendance at the meet. In the midst of some exciting swims and comic announcements by Orca announcer John Horman, a new national masters swimming record was broken. Jim Penfield, a 91-year old local masters swimmer from Fort Stilacoom broke the national record for the Mens 90-94 age group 100 yard breastroke with a time of 2:27.59.

During the lunch break, the Original Pink Flamingo Relay, themed after the Seattle WTO convention/riots, brought the audience to tears of laughter, complete with simulated tear gas smoke! The ORCAs provided the props for 3 relay teams consisting of either WTO delegates, Raging Grannies (peaceful protester contingent), and of course the Anarchists complete with bandanas. The relay was a progressive dress relay. The first swimmer started with one piece of the costume and each successive swimmer had to put on all item(s) from the previous swimmer and then add one more item before navigating 50 yards with a large inflatable ORCA whale. The English Bay team from Vancouver, competing as the Raging Grannies, triumphed in the competition, in a very close race. Orca souvenir awards were provided to all participants.

Swimmers enjoyed some free snacks during the day and complimentary massage from local LMPs, Nate Starling and Keith Rivard. First time masters swim meet swimmers were recognized with Team Seattle pins and there was a drawing for two pairs of Amtrak Cascade tickets, courtesy of Amtrak Cascades.

Swimmers congregated at the local dance club, Spintron Saturday evening for a humorous digital slide show consisting of pictures from the swim meet and then danced to a full house at Spintron.

Some swimmers, volunteers, and members of Ski Buddies managed to get up on Sunday morning for the organized ski and snowboard day at Alpental and Summit Central. There was lots of fresh powder snow for everyone and the group managed to escape the windstorm that occurred in Seattle and surrounding ski areas on the same day.

Official results from the swim meet may found on the PNA website.

The ORCAs plan to host the Queen City Splash & Ski again next year on Saturday, January 13, 2001.