Tuesday, March 24, 2015

UK Round-up and Beach Swimming Friday 27/3 and Monday 30/3 at 9.30am


Dear Swimmers

Well I've been back a week now and it's great to see so many of you still enjoying your swimming as we start to go into the colder months (relatively speaking!).

9.30am sessions

Just a reminder that this Friday 27/3 and Monday 30/3 for the 9.30am sessions we cannot use the pool due to two final carnivals (after this we're totally plain-sailing for the next couple of months*). We will run these 9.30am sessions at Cottesloe Beach meeting at the grass bank facing out to the pylon immediately to the north-side of the Indianna Tea Rooms. There was discussion about potentially running one of these sessions at the river - I will gauge interest in this with those who attend the Friday session and keep you posted over the weekend.

Pool Closure

*don't forget the pool is due to close for a period of 2 weeks from the 6th to the 20th June for some essential maintenance. It is unlikely that we'll be able to run any of our usual sessions during this period I'm afraid. I do apologise for the inconvenience. I have put in requests at other pools for some lane space during this time but it's looking a little unlikely due to other bookings. I will keep you posted on this front too!

Easter

Please note that the last session before Easter will be Sally's 6.30pm swim session on Thursday 2nd April and the first one back will be Cyndy's 5.30am/6.30am Tuesday 7th April session. There will be no sessions during the Easter holidays for the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Apologies for any inconvenience. I will be taking a short family holiday to New Zealand from the 2nd to 12th April, returning to the pool deck on Monday 13th April. One of my best friend's is getting married in Rotorua on Easter Saturday and I will be doing his wedding photos - sweet!

UK Trip

My UK trip went really well again this year - thanks once again for supporting me with these trips - they're truly very beneficial and I always come back nicely refreshed with some new ideas and evil plans formulating! 

We attended the 220 Triathlon Show for our fourth year in a row and this year created our own booth which was very well received and nicely demonstrated the new https://app.swimsmooth.com - see below:


Annie, Adam and Mother Smooth (Linda) prior to my arrival in the UK (I missed all the hard work setting it up - what a shame!)


The stand prior to the arrival of all the visitors

I was asked to deliver three keynote speeches for the audiences up in the seminar room on the topics of: setting appropriate goals based on knowing your CSS pace; open water skills; and a live video analysis "before and after" session with some historical video footage taken from the Swim Smooth archives. Based on the popularity of these talks I've also been asked to deliver the same speeches for http://www.atecexpo.com.au on the 4/5th July in Sydney, which I'm really excited about.

Of course this job of mine comes with a lot of perks too - here I am taking former Pussy Cat Dolls singer / dancer Kimberly Wyatt through a swim analysis session as she's due to undertake her first triathlon this season:


Kim looking on as I help to fine tune a swimmer's stroke in the Endless Pool


Dontcha wish ya swim coach was hot like me…?? No, ok well fair enough, I couldn't resist and Kim seemed to find it funny at least!


Live stroke correction for the audience


The stand with people checking out the new web app https://app.swimsmooth.com 


Even the young kids were mesmerised by the new app!

Then it was up to Northampton to deliver two 3-day Swim Smooth Coach Education Courses. We had over 120 applicants from around the world for the 15 spots available on each course. These went really well and given the new web app we were able to spend much less time on the theory of our methodology over precious years and more time on the practical application as each swimmer / coach received a 1-month free subscription to the app.


Annie looks on with her funky new t-shirt


Coaches get down to the nitty gritty of 121 stroke correction


Jazz Hands Part 1


More nitty gritty!


Everyone in their Swim Smooth caps - a great sight!


Coach Roy from Holland helping refine his swimmer's form


Jazz Hands Part 2!


Martynas (swimmer, centre) flew all the way from Lithuania for one day with us and set a Swim Smooth Clinic "record" of 1:11/100m CSS pace - incredible!

I also got to spend a couple of days with my Mum, Dad and little Sister (who's not actually that little - she's just 18 months younger than me!), so all in all it was a great trip!

Cheers and see you all on the pool deck soon!

Paul





Saturday, March 7, 2015

121 Availability

Dear Swimmers

Hope you are all doing well? We've just delivered our first of two 3-day Swim Smooth Coach Education Courses here in the chilly UK and all has gone very smoothly I'm pleased to say.

I've just been going through my diary and due to a few shift-arounds with a few sessions, I have the following five 1-2-1 Video Analysis Sessions available between now and the latter half of July.

Please let me know (inc. email and phone number) if you would like to lock in one of these spots. Full details at http://www.swimsmooth.com/perth_videoanalysis.html#pay - cost is $219. First come / best dressed.
  • Monday 23rd March at 8.10am
  • Monday 30th March at 8.10am
  • Monday 13th April at 8.10am
  • Tuesday 14th April at 7.45am
  • Tuesday 15th April at 9.30am
…and then nothing until Friday 17th July at 7.45am

See you back on pool deck in 10 days!

Paul

P.S please let me know if you can help out with the request for coach's homesteads as per http://swimsmoothperth.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/any-more-room-at-inn.html - thanks!




Thursday, March 5, 2015

Any more room at the inn?

Dear Swimmers

Hope you are doing well? Things are going well over here (full update later in the week!) but suffice to say I had an interesting weekend coaching at the London Triathlon EXPO when I was asked to coach a former Pussy Cat Dolls singer on how to swim efficient freestyle! Well, I couldn't exactly knock that offer back could I?! :-)

From Monday 20th April until Saturday 2nd May (and likely a few days either side), we will be inviting five new coaches over to Perth for some more Swim Smooth coach certification. In the past some of you have very kindly opened your doors and allowed them to stay with you whilst they are training with us on the pool deck and this time we are also hoping some of you might be able to assist. The coaches will be happy to pay some contributions to living and accommodation costs at your discretion of course. The coaches are:

  • Enrique from Spain
  • Lucy from Manchester, UK
  • Emma from London, UK
  • Russell from New Zealand
  • Fenella from Hong Kong

Please let me know by return email if you are able to assist - your help will be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

Paul