Seventeen of the top age group swimmers at the London Aquatic Club spent the March Break in Florida in preparation for the next phase of the 2014-15 swimming schedule, the ‘long course’ swim season.
The competitive swim season is broken into two phases. The first, which takes place from September to March, is known as the ‘short course’ (or winter) season. At this time, competitions are held in 25-meter pools. From March to August, the ‘long course’ season takes place, with the majority of competitions held in 50-meter, or Olympic-sized pools.
LAC is extremely fortunate to have access to three Olympic-sized swimming pools within the city, but sometimes we offer a unique training opportunity in a sunny location. This year, LAC returned to beautiful Plantation, Florida for seven days of swimming, sun, sand, and surf!
These warm weather training camps are a great way for the club’s coaches and swimmers to transition from the winter (‘short course’) to the summer (‘long course’) seasons. Getting out of the home environment not only provides a much-needed break from ‘Old Man Winter’, but also allows for dedicated work on swimming technique and fitness, as well as teaching the valuable life skills of responsibility, independence, and teamwork.
LAC swimmers usually participate in these unique training camp experiences once every two years, although their popularity is such that those who have recently participated clamour to go again the next year!
LAC has already hosted its first long course competition, the Good Friday Pentathlon, with excellent results posted by the club’s 170 participating swimmers. Also on the near horizon is LAC’s 24th annual Hollandia Invitational Swim Meet, which is set for May 8-10 at the Canada Games Aquatic Centre.
For more information on our growing program, visit us online: www.londonaquaticclub.ca or phone 519-857-SWIM. Our coaches are always looking for young children who love the water and who have perhaps climbed as high as they can through the swim lesson programs offered by the City. The LAC offers no-charge, no-obligation two-week trials.
– Story and photos submitted by the London Aquatic Club
