Weekly News - November 14, 2022

Amy Parratto

Riptide Weekly News – November 14, 2022

Latest Information

  • Riptide Fall Festival Invite: Thank you everyone who helped out to run our meet on Saturday. You are the best without a doubt! We had a ton of great swims from our Riptide swimmers. The results are now loaded into TU and SWIMS. 
  • Looking Ahead: The week of November 21st, there are a few changes due to the Thanksgiving holiday. There is no practice on the 24th and 25th, with the exception of Senior Elite. They will have a practice from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. in the 7 lane pool on the 24th and 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on the 25th. There will be a normal Saturday practice schedule on Saturday, Nov. 26th.
  • 360 Charities: Our Masters group is doing a charity swim for 360 Communities the morning of Thanksgiving. If you would like to donate items for the charity drive, a table will be set up under the Riptide Maggie banner. They are in need of all kinds of non-perishable food items, personal care products and monetary donations as well. If you have any questions, please reach out to coach Amy.
  • Pizza night: We are still looking for a few volunteers (Senior Elite and Senior/ Senior Prep Groups) to help with pizza pick up.  Please sign up using this link -https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4fafaa2caafac43-pizza. The times provided in the link are the times of a pick-up and help serving it to the swimmers.
  • Parking lot lights: We are having the parking lot pole lights replaced all the way around the building. We are also having wall packs and other lights replaced as needed and adding 4-6 new wall packs on the backside of the building. We are trying to get it done as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience! 
  • Special thanks:  Check out our new Wall of Pride with all of the Achievement Banners the Riptide Swimmers have earned! We would like to say special THANK YOU to Bobby Deeb and Chris Debeltz for stepping up to help out with this project! 
  • Additional session for the Flip Turn clinic: With a lot of families on the waitlist for the Flip Turn and Underwaters clinic on November 20th  we have created an additional session for mixed groups. Registration deadline is on November 16th. Please register soon if interested. 
  • Remembering Coach Sean Maguire: If your child had Sean as a coach at either the Swim School or at Riptide, please take some time to write down your memories. We have a box with “Act of Kindness” forms to fill out on a table in the lobby. Help us to give Sean’s family these memories of kindness and to know that their son truly did make a difference. Thank you!
  • Upcoming Meet Deadlines: Riptide Jingle Bell Invite – Nov. 21st, Riptide Chilly Dip – Nov. 28th. If you have any questions, reach out to your swimmer’s lead coach.
  • Important Meet Fee Billing Reminder:
  1. Parents are required to pay their swimmer's meet entry fees.  These fees are specifically highlighted in the meet information section for ALL meets.  Riptide pays meet fees prior to the meet start date.  Riptide then collects these fees from parents after the meet has concluded.
  2. Once the meet deadline passes, meet fees are non-refundable.  If a swimmer is a no show or scratches after the deadline, the meet fees will still be charged to the swimmer's account.  It is imperative that all families follow the meet entry accept/decline process.
  3. Meet fees are invoiced and posted to all accounts within 1 week after the completion of a meet.  All charges will be processed with the automatic credit card processing on the first of each month.
  • New Riptide Towel Order: We are doing another order for Riptide custom towels.  We do a custom towel every 3-4 years with a different design.  Size is 34 x 60 and the cost is $42 or $45 with a customized name.  This order is not through Elsmore, so you are not able to purchase these towels after the order date. The towel is up on the team page now ready to order - https://elsmoreswim.com/teams/minnesota/clubs/riptide.html Ordering will close on Nov. 15th.

Regular Reminders

  • Questions – If you have any questions regarding your swimmer, meets, clinics, practices etc. please contact your swimmer’s lead coach in order to get the quickest, most accurate and helpful response (see the list below). The coaches are here to help your child in all areas of their swimming. Make sure to reach out to them! If you have a billing question, contact Cara Pavek – [email protected]
  • Cold Weather Reminder: As the cold weather is approaching please make sure your swimmers are dressed weather appropriate. Swimmers should have pants and sweatshirts on to cover their legs and arms after the practice once it gets cold outside. 
  • Dryland: Please make sure all of the swimmers have athletic clothing and tennis shoes on in order to participate in the dryland.
  • Team Pictures: Group and individual pictures will take place on Nov. 13th. Scheduled group times are as follows: Junior Select, Senior Prep, Senior, Senior Elite groups at 10:30-12:00 p.m.; 9U, Bronze, Silver and Gold at 12:30-2:00 p.m. Please wear a team grey shirt and the team suit for the pictures. If you don’t have them you can purchase those items by visiting our website and clicking the “Apparel” button or at Elsmore store. 
  • “How to be a Supportive Parent” Workshop: Please join us for a FREE workshop led by Coach Amy Parratto on Nov. 13th. At this workshop you will receive helpful information on how to be a supportive sport parent of your athlete. How the parent, swimmer and coach relationship should work. How to set up your relationship with your swimmer for their success in the sport and in life. The workshop will take place at Bluewater Aquatic Center at the same time as your swimmers’ group/individual pictures. This is a great opportunity to join this session to receive parent education while you are waiting for your kids. Junior Select, Senior Prep, Senior, Senior Elite parents at 11-12 p.m.; 9U, Bronze, Silver, Gold parents at 12:15-1:15 p.m. Please register by visiting our website, and commit your family to this event.
  • Adult Swim Training & Private Lessons - Group Technical Skills Training For Triathletes & Masters; Beginner Adult Swim Classes; Individual and Small Group Lessons going on now! For more information – contact Michelle Hopewell at [email protected]
  • Stroke and Turn Officials - Anyone interested in learning to become a USA Swimming Stroke and Turn Official - please contact Wendy Peterson at [email protected].  
  • Private Lessons - Riptide Coaches are offering 30 and 60 minute private lessons. If your swimmer is interested, either contact your lead coach directly or [email protected].

RIPTIDE STAFF CONTACTS: