Here's the funny thing: when I go to swim meets, I like the short races--50, 100, 200--but have longer distances in my sights for open water. Just dig the yin and yang of swimming. Loving this thread!
I sort of see this as a branding opportunity, and I'm not sure that Latin phrases work best here -- especially if you have to translate them for people.
Pure, uncomplicated, admirable, accepting and facing challenges, achievement... a sense of "original sport". These are the sorts of themes that I'd vote for (and products that I'd buy).
Perhaps someone has a marketing background they can share?
@JenA, I'm certainly not suggesting Latin. I heartily dislike the idea of "conquering" the sea by a mere swim.
My preferred merchanise would be a simple enamel pin of the MSF logo. For anything else, Marathon Swimmers Federation is as much I'd want. But the idea of the thread was to have a bit of fun also. However I certainly don't have the bandwidth to organise anything.
JenA said:
I sort of see this as a branding opportunity, and I'm not sure that Latin phrases work best here -- especially if you have to translate them for people.
Do it in English then because its a powerful message. "To accomplish rather than be conspicuous" .
Crests might work well. You could sew them onto swimsuits, towels, backpacks, clothing... People could make a DIY hoodie. They'd be relatively cheap, too... $2-3? There wouldn't be much damage risk throwing a couple of them in an envelope either.
Thanks @emkhowley. There are a couple of (not impossible to overcome) difficulties . It's a little like the calendars except people have to decide what they'd want, then pay MSF, then Evan and/or I order, then we have to dispatch to multiple individual locations. That's adds time and drives up the cost to you all (double-shipping). However, would I like a badge or pion or t-shrt etc? Yes.
I suggest we agree a design then lodge it with Redbubble or similar and whoever wants one simply buys it off their site. I did this with another club and it worked out very well.
Redbubble say they give assistance with art work etc.. does anyone have experience in this area?
maybe look at Cafepress if you are looking to just do t-shirts and other such items. People can just go in an order at their leisure. A bit high priced but it doesn't require much work otherwise (I assume). Just need logo artwork. No enamel pins or swim caps.
evmo said:
In the meantime please continue to throw out slogan ideas, e.g., for a hypothetical back of a shirt, where the MSF logo is on the front.
Think we need to have front and back options lets not only have a back option. Whilst I have no problem promoting MSF, the idea is to have a fun tee shirt.
paulm said:
Carrying on from @pavlicov above..... There is more room on this Earth to swim than to run or cycle
That said it may upset a few triathletes
Runner as well as swimmer (but don't do cycling--allergic to bikes... get road rash pretty quickly). Not upset at all. Lots of water, not a lot of land, but enough for my needs.
What about the idea of getting the artwork done- Maybe 3 or 4 options/slogans plus logo. Than allowing members with ( say a minimum of 3-6 months membership or x number of posts ) the ability to download the artwork (maybe for a small contribution or we could all put in for the original artwork ) We could then get printed in our own cities/states/countries either individually or in small groups. This would do a way with the postage costs.
"It's not about the..." in a large(ish) font, and then massive representation from performance-enhancing anything from every single sport where more money tends to correlate with better performance ... wetsuit, bike, pedals, handlebars, carbon fork, rims, carbon seat post, suit, scull, skates, paddle, hockey stick, baseball bat, choreography, skis, poles, bobsled, costumes, harness, horse, sherpa, shoes, cleats, gloves, golf clubs, tennis racket, surfboard, snowboard, etc... I don't have an exhaustive list, but I hope the idea is clear. For visual interest (which is definitely not one of my strengths, at all, ever, under any circumstance, but may be an creative activity suited to @phodgeszoho), maybe you make some of them pictographs/icons.
Maybe sort of word-cloud-ish so certain words pop out more than others. And then maybe throw in some non-performance enhancing words like: crowd, podium, GoPro, publicity, fundraising, false claims, corruption, bribes...
I just hope that the official t-shirt will not have any slogan bashing another sports or talking only about channel swimming ... There is much more to swimming that just a channel; and I would not wear anything that makes fun of another sports. Triathlon is as serious sport as any other. Just because we don't get it, does not mean it is any less athletic than what we do.
Hence, I propose: "About 71% of the Earth is water covered: We swim it all !"
Given that women make majority of marathon swimmers, I think women's sizes are must.
@pavlicov said:
I just hope that the official t-shirt will not have any slogan bashing another sports ...
Apologies, @pavilcov, if you felt my comment would be interpreted as sport bashing. That wasn't my intention. My intention was to distinguish marathon swimming from the majority of sports where money tends to influence performance.
I got one made for myself to "test" out an online t-shirt supplier (Zazzle). I have my blog name on the front chest and the following on the back (with the blessing of @Leonard_Jansen).
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Comments
It's okay to pee in our "pool".
"Lights go out and I can't be saved
Tides that I tried to swim against
Have brought be down upon my knees
Oh I beg, I beg and plead..."
When we get bored, we switch Channels too
Marathon Swimming: Channels are for swimming, not watching
We did a calendar. Time for a t-shirt?
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Marathons Swimmer: We'll Never Swim Alone
Because comfort zones are for Dirt Dwellers
Here's the funny thing: when I go to swim meets, I like the short races--50, 100, 200--but have longer distances in my sights for open water. Just dig the yin and yang of swimming. Loving this thread!
Hey, well, this sort of qualifies me--but I haven't quite the distance yet. Working on that part.
I offer this: Swimming--because I'm too cheap to buy a ferry ticket
Stop me if you've heard this one...
A grasshopper walks into a bar...
https://elainekhowley.com/
bump
(All the money I put aside a year ago to buy MSF t-shirts and swim caps is burning a hole in my swim suit pocket.)
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
hey, be nice...you guys sure do a lot of triathlon, Ironman bashing...some of us do that and marathon swimming...weird snobbery I think?
This thread is tagged "humour." Worth considering?
From a wetsuits-taking-over-the-world perspective, it may not be the strongest move for our sport for us to self-brand as "crazy".
I'm still hoping some sort of MSF-branded stuff becomes available soon.
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
I still like the simple ones..... Marathon Swimming: Veni Vidi Vici
.
Thats what it's all about at the end of the day, everything else is fluff.
I like that, to complete the theme, the key to life is achievement, not boasting about it; we are known by what we do rather than what we claim. Cool.
Well if one wants to run with Latin and the elegant turn of the Laconic expression, I favor Solum Natare (We just swim)
It's all moot till we actually make a t-shirt.
Or swim cap...
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
@NoelFigart, @WarmWater If we to use Latin, then surely:
Veni, natavi, vici
would be apposite? I suffered latin in school. It was EXACTLY like the graffiti sketch in Life of Brian. Right down to the swords & centurians.
loneswimmer.com
Mike, every time you complain about this, you're signing yourself up for another 10...right?
I sort of see this as a branding opportunity, and I'm not sure that Latin phrases work best here -- especially if you have to translate them for people.
Pure, uncomplicated, admirable, accepting and facing challenges, achievement... a sense of "original sport". These are the sorts of themes that I'd vote for (and products that I'd buy).
Perhaps someone has a marketing background they can share?
@JenA, I'm certainly not suggesting Latin. I heartily dislike the idea of "conquering" the sea by a mere swim.
My preferred merchanise would be a simple enamel pin of the MSF logo. For anything else, Marathon Swimmers Federation is as much I'd want. But the idea of the thread was to have a bit of fun also. However I certainly don't have the bandwidth to organise anything.
loneswimmer.com
Do it in English then because its a powerful message. "To accomplish rather than be conspicuous" .
Crests might work well. You could sew them onto swimsuits, towels, backpacks, clothing... People could make a DIY hoodie. They'd be relatively cheap, too... $2-3? There wouldn't be much damage risk throwing a couple of them in an envelope either.
Rena has ordered patches for the IISA-USA org and the Winter Swimming thing from this site: http://www.thestudio.com/patches/#
I believe it cost $250 for 50 patches and they're high quality. Just sharing the resource if that's helpful!
Stop me if you've heard this one...
A grasshopper walks into a bar...
https://elainekhowley.com/
Thanks @emkhowley. There are a couple of (not impossible to overcome) difficulties . It's a little like the calendars except people have to decide what they'd want, then pay MSF, then Evan and/or I order, then we have to dispatch to multiple individual locations. That's adds time and drives up the cost to you all (double-shipping). However, would I like a badge or pion or t-shrt etc? Yes.
loneswimmer.com
I suggest we agree a design then lodge it with Redbubble or similar and whoever wants one simply buys it off their site. I did this with another club and it worked out very well.
Redbubble say they give assistance with art work etc.. does anyone have experience in this area?
maybe look at Cafepress if you are looking to just do t-shirts and other such items. People can just go in an order at their leisure. A bit high priced but it doesn't require much work otherwise (I assume). Just need logo artwork. No enamel pins or swim caps.
Yes.
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Thanks, everyone. We are working on some options and hope to make something available soon.
In the meantime please continue to throw out slogan ideas, e.g., for a hypothetical back of a shirt, where the MSF logo is on the front.
About 71% of the Earth is water covered: We swim it all !
Think we need to have front and back options lets not only have a back option. Whilst I have no problem promoting MSF, the idea is to have a fun tee shirt.
http://www.cafepress.com/+swimming+gifts has some reasonable style ideas.
Carrying on from @pavlicov above..... There is more room on this Earth to swim than to run or cycle
That said it may upset a few triathletes
Runner as well as swimmer (but don't do cycling--allergic to bikes... get road rash pretty quickly). Not upset at all. Lots of water, not a lot of land, but enough for my needs.
Re t-shirts--would love to have long-sleeve shirts and/or women's cut. But neither one is a must. Just would be cool.
What about the idea of getting the artwork done- Maybe 3 or 4 options/slogans plus logo. Than allowing members with ( say a minimum of 3-6 months membership or x number of posts ) the ability to download the artwork (maybe for a small contribution or we could all put in for the original artwork ) We could then get printed in our own cities/states/countries either individually or in small groups. This would do a way with the postage costs.
One possible back-of-the-t-shirt idea:
"It's not about the..." in a large(ish) font, and then massive representation from performance-enhancing anything from every single sport where more money tends to correlate with better performance ... wetsuit, bike, pedals, handlebars, carbon fork, rims, carbon seat post, suit, scull, skates, paddle, hockey stick, baseball bat, choreography, skis, poles, bobsled, costumes, harness, horse, sherpa, shoes, cleats, gloves, golf clubs, tennis racket, surfboard, snowboard, etc... I don't have an exhaustive list, but I hope the idea is clear. For visual interest (which is definitely not one of my strengths, at all, ever, under any circumstance, but may be an creative activity suited to @phodgeszoho), maybe you make some of them pictographs/icons.
Maybe sort of word-cloud-ish so certain words pop out more than others. And then maybe throw in some non-performance enhancing words like: crowd, podium, GoPro, publicity, fundraising, false claims, corruption, bribes...
Plus or minus words as desired.
I just hope that the official t-shirt will not have any slogan bashing another sports or talking only about channel swimming ... There is much more to swimming that just a channel; and I would not wear anything that makes fun of another sports. Triathlon is as serious sport as any other. Just because we don't get it, does not mean it is any less athletic than what we do.
Hence, I propose: "About 71% of the Earth is water covered: We swim it all !"
Given that women make majority of marathon swimmers, I think women's sizes are must.
Apologies, @pavilcov, if you felt my comment would be interpreted as sport bashing. That wasn't my intention. My intention was to distinguish marathon swimming from the majority of sports where money tends to influence performance.
I got one made for myself to "test" out an online t-shirt supplier (Zazzle). I have my blog name on the front chest and the following on the back (with the blessing of @Leonard_Jansen).
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Dude, unless you're standing in line to catch a bus how are folks going to have the time to read all that?!
Marathon Swimmers because we can...
"One stroke after another, until I reach the other side."
Want it!
Yeah, @Niek, how do we score one of those shirts? And what does it say on the front?
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
Have goggles and speedo, will travel.