Soda Aquatic Center, Moraga, California

Lap pools in:
Moraga, CA
Sarasota, FL

Several lanes or the whole pool just for us
Regular temperature pool
Shallow and deep water classes depending on where you're at home.

Prerequisites for Freestyle Class:
Must have taken at least our BEGINNING class.
Must understand what being in your body means
Must be in your body for all "toys" in shallow end (sitting on bottom, falling forward, somersaults, handstands, whale jumps)
Must be able to unfloat from front and back floats in shallow
All of these things must be accomplished without speed

When you know you're safe and you can move from here to there with confidence and ease, you're no longer focused on survival and you're ready to learn strokes.

The Freestyle class builds on the confidence you learned in the first classes and teaches the sequence of steps needed to put together a whole freestyle: balance, line, kick, propulsion, and breathing at your own pace. Learn turns, drills, swimming toys, and ways to make workouts and lap swimming fun. Yes, once you're in your body, it only takes a week to learn the freestyle.

Learn how to use swimming for exercise (workout construction), lap swimming etiquette, and how to use a pace clock. Video of you and your progress for maximum feedback.

Ten 3-hour classes over 7 days.
2008 Moraga classes are:
July 6: 8:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m. and 3-6 p.m.
July 7: 9-noon
July 8: 9-noon
July 9: 9-noon and 4-7 p.m.
July 10: 9-noon
July 11: 9-noon
July 12: 8:30 a.m to 11:30 a.m. and 3-6 p.m.

Lodging: We recommend that you stay in a hotel nearby so you can devote your week to swimming and absorbing information, and reduce stress of commuting and household responsibilities.

Fins
If you don't have fins, we recommend Zuras (first) or TYR split fins (second). Test them in the pool and make sure they're comfortable and that they're not too stiff. Allow time to replace them with other fins, just in case they're not right for you. It's VERY important to have fins that work on Day 1. If TYR Split fins don't work for you, buy full-foot rubber fins. We can recommend some that will most likely do. We have some Zuras in stock ($40 at class).

Wetsuit shirt
A wetsuit vest or shirt may be appropriate for warmth. Virtually everyone has worn them in the past. Rent for $20 for 1-7 days, or buy your own for use afterward.

Please bring these items to class: two bathing suits, dark goggles if class is outdoors (otherwise, regular goggles), rubber full-foot snorkeling fins if you have them, sun block and hat. Also, something warm to wear from pool.

Refresher: July 9, 10, 2008
Moraga, Soda Aquatic Center
If you've already been in a lap swimming class, you may take our Refresher Class to boost your freestyle and flip turns to the next level.

At 75, Pat settles into a freestyle
she's dreamt about for 60 years.