Participation, Fun, Success – the philosophy that works!
CHILDREN LEARN TO SWIM BETTER, FASTER — Our program’s content, methods and skilled teachers and coaches ensure children learn to swim faster, learn more skills, and learn more rapidly than in any other program.
Why choose Olympic Way?
What makes Olympic Way different from other programs?
How do I know which Olympic Way program to register in?
When are the Olympic Way lessons?
5 years + This progressive 3-level program teaches swimmers 54 important water skills, and focuses on seven major skill progressions: butterfly, breaststroke, backstroke, freestyle, water safety, entries and turns. Swimmers learn to put together whole skill-sets, one step at a time. All Nanaimo Riptides Olympic Way programs are at the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre.
Levels 1, 2 and 3
Level 1 Orientation to Water
Establishes the foundation for the acquisition of swimming skills. Children in this level will develop the fundamental skills needed to learn to swim.
Pre-requisites:
● Minimum 5 years of age
● Comfortable entering water
● Able to stand on bottom of wave pool
● Willing to listen and take directions from coaches
Skills learned:
● Entry and immersion
● Buoyancy and floatation
● Submersion and breath control
● Movement in the water
● Propulsion through the water
Level 2 Skill Development
Focuses on basic movements and orientation ability needed for swimming strokes, such as arm action, sculling and breathing.
Pre-requisites:
● Minimum 5 years of age
● Has Stage 1 or equivalent experience
● Comfortable kicking on front and back
○ 25 metres with assistance
○ 5 metres unassisted
● Willing to listen and take directions from coaches
Skills learned:
● Streamlining - propulsion
● Basic strokes – free, back, intro breaststroke, basic dolphin movement
● Specific skills – submersion, underwater push-offs, treading water, introduction to diving skills
● Transition to deep pool
Level 3 Skill Improvement
Improves all four strokes. Focuses on improving reaction/rhythm of all strokes while increasing endurance. This level builds on diving and turn skills learned in level 2. When swimmers finish this level, they will have the skills necessary to be safe around water & ready to advance to the competitive or fitness programs.
Pre-requisites:
● Minimum 5 years of age
● Has Olympic Way Level 2 or equivalent experience
● Comfortable swimming in the 50 metre (deep pool)
● Able to swim 25 metres unassisted
● Willing to listen and take directions from coaches
Skills learned:
● Major focus - breathing and stroke timing
● Stroke Improvement – free, back, breast, fly
● Introduction to turn skills
● Advanced diving skills
● Building endurance
Beyond the lessons.....
Los Angeles-1984 Swim Group Skill Refinement
Gain knowledge and confidence as a swimmer while enhancing the swimming skills learned in the Olympic Way.
This is a competitive group designed to introduce swimmers to competitive swimming. Developing skills in all four strokes will be the primary focus in this group and swimmers are now able to attend both club and regional level swim meets. Swimmers must attend one away meet before Christmas, one away meet between Christmas and spring break, one away meet after spring break and all meets hosted by Riptides.
Entrance Requirements:
♦Willing to listen and take directions from coaches and can function within a group structure
♦The desire to compete regional level swim meets
♦Completion of Olympic Way 3 or an equivalent ability ♦Comfortable swimming 100 meters deep end of NAC
Skills learned:
♦Stroke drills – focus on skill refinement and stroke enhancement
♦Endurance building
♦Goal setting
♦Advanced diving skills
Required Equipment:
♦Team shirt, team cap, goggles, water bottle & proper suit (no bikinis or board shorts)
Check availability and Register
Blue & Gold Meet
Once each session the club hosts Blue and Gold night which is a fun team event where swimmers in the Olympic Way program and the Los Angeles-1984 and Seoul-1988 groups showcase their swimming. It is a great way for young swimmers to experience a mini swim meet in the comfort of their home pool. Swimmers in the Barcelona-1992 group and above act as officials and big buddies to the participants under the direction of the Assistant Head Coach.
Swimmers meet their coach at their Level flag on the deck at 4 pm where they are placed with big buddies in heat groups. It’s a good idea to bring an extra towel (or two) as they will be in and out of the water. Parents are encouraged to come and cheer on their children. At the conclusion of the swimming there is food and drink available for a nominal charge. The night ends at 6 pm.
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Unsure
About what level to register your swimmer in
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Riptides office: 250-714-1800
Assistant Head Coach email: 
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Riptides office: 250-714-1800
Office Manager email:
Enquiries
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Weekdays 3pm to 6:30pm from October to June
Riptides office: 250-714-1800
Office Manager email: