Learning to swim and aquarobics classes are underway at the heated pool
It’s time to get wet again as swimming organisers splash out with a new calendar of courses and fitness programmes.
Golden Bay Swimming president Helen Young was pleased with the turnout at the club’s recent enrolment day, and those who could not attend have been put on the waiting list.
“This year we changed the entry criteria and we take kids from seven years onwards, but they have to be able to touch the bottom of the pool and be able to swim the width of the pool. We got the kids to come along with togs so we could assess them and group them. We had to cap the numbers so we did not overburden the coaches. This is important because we have quite a bit of responsibility and all of us are volunteers.”
The aim of the swimming programme is to get people to be confident in the water and to improve strokes and technique. For total beginners there will be a Learn to Swim course at the beginning of next year at the Takaka Primary pool. At the other end of the spectrum are the competitive swimmers, a small squad of high school students who represent Golden Bay at swimming events.
“We cater for the lower end of beginner swimmers really well, but we would like more helpers to come forth so we can accommodate those who are on the waiting list. The schools already get the kids to swim three quarters to an hour every day, which is fantastic, and I encourage parents to get a pool key and spend time with their youngsters in the pool. There is so much water around in Golden Bay and many people have boats, so the kids need to learn to stay afloat in water which is well out of their depth, be prepared to get under water and get wet,” said Helen.
At great cost to the school, the pool is heated to a comfortable 26 degrees, and public support is appreciated and necessary. “In summer, 12 to 4pm is reserved every day for public swimming which, at $2 per person, is still darn good value compared with prices over the Hill.”
Instructor Georgie Stone lures people into the pool with Aqua Exercise to Music and Aqua Circuit classes. Because the water displaces much of the body’s weight, aquarobics is much easier on the joints and back than normal aerobics, which tends to have high-impact workouts. Aquarobics exercises are suitable for non-swimmers and all fitness levels, and many people come under the Green Prescription programme.
“Water-based activities are a fantastic way to exercise. You don’t get muscle soreness and there’s less lactic acid build up when you’re in the water as the muscles don’t get so overloaded, but you still get a good workout because you work with the resistance of the water all the time,” said Georgie. “The Aqua Exercise to Music is an aerobics class in water with a combination of movements which gradually raise the heartbeat and then bring it down again, followed by toning exercises and stretching at the end. Aqua Circuit classes involve simpler moves over some stations of exercise and people rotate in pairs. The water-based exercises are equally for very fit people who want to work really hard through the water, and also for the unfit ones. They’re a really great way to be mobile.”
Participants can wear T-shirts and shorts or togs, but not wetsuits.
Thanks to the high school and TDC, which supports the pool as a community asset, the heated pool makes an early start to the season possible. However, an all-year-round pool is much needed in the Bay, said Georgie. “We desperately need an indoor pool for the less fit, the weaker, the old and injured people in Golden Bay.” A year-round, all weather facility would also enable swimmers to train more competitively for national and regional events.
Aqua Exercise to Music classes are held on Mondays at 3.15pm and Aqua Circuit classes at 4.15pm at the high school pool. Costs are $5 per class, gold coin for teenagers. Call Georgie for more information on 525 6110 or 027 668 8553.
Pool keys are available from the school office. Keyholders, who pay $120 per key for the season, are allocated certain times of the day for lane swimming. Keyholders are allowed to bring family members during weekends, otherwise it is one key per person. Special rates apply for students.
Ina Holst
