Weekly News - December 1, 2025

Amy Parratto

IMPORTANT REMINDERS  

We’re Almost Halfway Through the Short Course Season!
A huge thank you to all the swimmers and parents who have shared their time and energy so far. Your support makes everything possible—Riptide couldn’t host meets or social events without you! We appreciate you and look forward to an amazing second half of the season!

SWIM MEET NEWS: Riptide swimmers are competing at two meets this weekend! We are hosting our Jingle Bell Invite on Saturday. It looks like it will be a great meet with three local teams participating as well. Meet programs and details will be posted by Wednesday. There are still a few jobs that need to be filled (male meet marshal and post meet clean-up help). We have a group of our top 14&U swimmers attending the MNSI Single Age State Meet this Friday through Sunday. Check out our meet page for the latest details. GO RIPTIDE!

TRAINING OPPORTUNITY: We need parents interested in training to run Meet Manager and Colorado Timing Systems for the swim meets we host. If your strong suit is technology, this is a great way to help out the team. You will learn from two experienced parents – Anne Knapp and Michele Graves at our Jingle Bell Invite. If you are interested, please reach out to either Anne Knapp or Amy Parratto (see contact list below). Thank you!

WINTER HOLIDAY PRACTICE ADJUSTMENTS: The following groups will not have practice on December 24, 25, 26, 31, and January 1: 8&U, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Junior Select, Senior 1, Senior 2 and Senior 3. On all other days, they will have a normal practice schedule. Our Senior Elite swimmers will practice in the morning from December 21 to January 3. They will have off on December 24, 25, 31 and January 1. A specific schedule is being finalized for both pools and will be emailed and sent in the group chat. We will also update all Team Unify calendars this week! If you have any questions, please reach out to your swimmer’s lead coach.

RIPTIDE MASTERS CHARITY SWIM: Our Masters group held a very successful charity swim on Thanksgiving morning. They raised $2,694.00 and 501 lbs of food and non-perishable items for 360 Communities!!! Thank you to everyone who donated!!!

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN: Riptide is once again taking part in packing meals for Feed My Starving Children on January 2 from 2:30 to 4:15 p.m. at their Eagan location. Look for our sign-up this week! We plan to cancel the Gold dryland and Junior Select Mental Fitness classroom sessions. Those groups will start in the water at 5:15 and 5:00 respectively. All other groups will practice at their normal times.

SALES POSITION AT ELSMORE: Elsmore Swim Shop is hiring a Part-Time Retail Sales Associate for Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Enjoy great perks, including employee discounts on everything—from goggles and gear to tech suits! Interested? Fill out an application here: https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0724/2635/7041/files/Elsmore_Employment_Application.pdf?v=1696532441 or email Anne at [email protected].

USA SWIMMING 2026 MEMBERSHIP - If you have not yet renewed your swimmer's membership with USA Swimming, be sure to do that this month! To renew your swimmer's membership, log into your USA Swimming account and then select the RENEW option. Swimmers must have a current USA Swimming membership to participate in practice, team events and meets.

REGULAR REMINDERS 

  • QUESTIONS REGARDING PRACTICES AND SWIM MEETS: If you have questions regarding your child’s practices or swim meets, contact the lead coach for their group (see below). 
  • QUESTIONS REGARDING BILLING AND REGISTRATION: If you have questions regarding billing and registration, reach out to Cara Pavek or Anne Knapp. Anne will be taking over for Car this fall. Our contact information is listed below. 
  • Adult Swim Training & Private Lessons: Group Training for Triathletes & Masters; Beginner Adult Swim Classes; Individual and Small Group Lessons going on now! For more information –contact [email protected]. 
  • Private Lessons: Riptide Coaches offer 30 and 60 minute private lessons. If your swimmer is interested, contact your lead coach directly and they can help you out or recommend another coach on our staff. 
  • Stroke and Turn Officials - Anyone interested in learning to become a USA Swimming Stroke and Turn Official - please contact Wendy Peterson at [email protected].   

RIPTIDE LEAD COACH and STAFF CONTACTS: