Ravens set to fly south      
Written by Simon Martin     
Thursday, 07 December 2006 
 
Ottawa's harsh winters can do strange things to you. Blistering, cold winds 
often send students into the tunnels to get to class. By March cabin fever 
sets in and residence students are prone to going partially mad.

There are, however, some solutions; just ask the Carleton University Ravens 
swim team.  The swimmers head off to Florida every year on Boxing Day to 
shake off the winter blues. 

"I don't even know how long we have been doing this," said Raven head coach 
Lynn Marshall. She said the tradition was already entrenched when she began 
coaching six years ago.

"It's a great opportunity for the team to bond and get to know each other 
better," said Marshall.  

The trip to Florida, however, is not exactly a holiday. The swimmers train 
four hours a day before they are set free and allowed to enjoy the warm 
weather.

"The days are hard. It's a lot of work," said Raven assistant captain 
Kristin Smith. She went with the team to Florida two years ago and said 
it was a great experience.  

"You create special bonds and memories on a trip like this," said Smith.

Her greatest memory happened, when the team, including the men's side, 
practiced yoga on the beach. "We also played football, so the guys weren't 
too upset," she added. 

Free time does exist for the swimmers though. The team's hotel is a block 
from the beach and in the direct vicinity of the world's largest outlet 
mall. Tanning is the preferred downtime activity, although good weather 
is not always guaranteed.

"I remember when two of our swimmers were determined to get a tan even though 
it was three degrees [outside]. Everybody was going out to buy coats and we 
had people still determined to get a tan," said Marshall with a laugh.

Teamwork is the obvious benefit of the trip, according to Marshall. She 
said supporting the team is of the utmost importance in swimming. "To have 
a close, tight knit group is key," said Marshall.

If the winter blasé is getting to you at Christmas time, try closing your 
eyes and think of doing yoga on a sunny Florida beach. It will be sure to 
cheer you up, at least momentarily.