Kings Swim School set to open new facility

By Ben O’Connell

Kings Swim School is getting an upgrade. The new facility will allow the swim school to run more lessons and trainings, with eight 25m lanes across two pools.

A presence in Sockburn since 1991, Kings Swim School will officially move down Main South Road to their new facility mid-July. The community aqua hub will be the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, built with sustainability and accessibility in mind.

Kings Swim School director, Todd Mason, is proud that the new site will offer locals more opportunities to learn to swim. The facility will have two pools; one with six 25m lanes, the other a warmer, child-friendly two-lane pool.

“There will be capacity for over 2500 kids to be taught how to swim every week. We only want to grow,” he says.

There will be more lessons available for swimmers of all ages. For the around 400 under-fives who swim at Kings each week, an improved perpetual nine-level programme will cover the key swim skills along with fun activities and songs.

Upgraded customer focused software will allow parents to follow their child’s unique progress through their programme.

“Our new location will be a child friendly environment. Chipmunks are our new neighbours, so kids can have a swim and then play next-door. There’s lots for the parents to do too,” Todd says.

Kings’ after-school programme has helped thousands of kids develop essential lifelong water skills. Todd hopes that more primary schools will get on board with the programme though, especially once the new facility opens.

“Swimming is a skill for life. It’s not a cost for parents, but an investment in your children.”

Basic aquatic skills are a part of New Zealand’s school curriculum, but many kids grow up without consistent opportunities to learn. Kings gives schools a packaged 75 percent price discount on lessons.

Todd says this is just one of the many ways that Kings Swim School is working hard to empower and inspire its young people.

“It’s all about giving back to the community. We want to give people the tools they need to survive.”

More lane space means more lessons available for teenagers and adults, a demographic less likely to be keen on swim school.

“It’s more comfortable to be swimming next to people in the same position as you, sharing the journey,” he says. “Kiwis are overconfident, especially young guys. It’s one thing to be a good swimmer in the pool, but on a boat or a beach it’s a different story.”

As citizens of an island nation, it’s common for Kiwis to wrongly assume they’re competent enough in and around the water. “Around 80 percent of people who drown had no intention of being near the water,” he says. “Water safety is many things. We never say people are safe in the water, only safer. You can never be totally safe in the water.”

Kings Swim School offer transitional squad training, designed for those who have completed the learn-to-swim programme but want to continue honing their water skills.

The training leads into competitive squad training with a higher performance standard. The swim school also holds expert tri-master classes for triathletes and master swimmers. These morning and weekend sessions double as a chance for swimmers to connect socially.

And the network is extensive. Kings Swim School was founded in 1991 and was soon led by Olympian Anthony Beks.

Dame Sophie Pascoe learned to swim at Kings, and her former coach Roly Crichton still helps out with trainings. A swim coach at the 2004 Athens Olympics himself, Mason took over as owner of Kings Swim School shortly after.

Beyond Kings, Todd channels his over 35 years of experience into coaching the Vikings Swim Club, one of the fastest growing swim clubs in Canterbury.

Mason hopes the Kings Swim community will flourish with the new facility, so the list of Kings Swim School success stories does too.

“We train babies to Olympians,” Todd laughs. “It’s a pretty cool journey.”

Kings Swim School’s new facility is at 218 Main South Road. It will be open to the public mid-July. CT

Kings Swim School (03) 341 7579 info@swimkings.co.nz www.swimkings.co.nz

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