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It's High Season for Competition!
 It's time again for some sizzling competition! The pools at Bayside, Great Neck & Princess Anne are host to a variety of swimming competitions including high school swimming, high school diving and our winter swim league.
The swimming competition consists of a mixture of individual swimming events and relays swum in one or more of the four competitive strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Each stroke is swum in races whose distances vary from a short 25-meter sprint to a quarter of a mile (400 meters). The pools consist of eight lanes, each 25 meters in length, with up to eight swimmers battling for each race.
The diving competition consists of individual divers performing up to six dives each off a 1-meter springboard. Dives are categorized into five groups: forward, reverse, back, inward and twisting; and each dive may be performed in one of four positions: straight, pike, tuck and free. Each dive is rated for its degree of difficulty, ranging from 1.4 for a straight forward dive to 3.6 for a forward twisting pike performed with 2 ½ somersaults and 2 twists.
Swimming and diving competitions generate energy and excitement in the pools, so stop by and get in on the action! View the competition schedules for Bayside, Great Neck & Princess Anne for meet dates and times.
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Swim Tip: It's All in the Undulation
 With good timing, the butterfly is a graceful swimming stroke. When the hips are at the surface of the water, the shoulders should be submerged and vice versa. This continuously alternating motion between upper and lower torso creates the basic undulation responsible for a correctly timed butterfly stroke. One simple key to good undulation in butterfly is head down, hips up on entry. A step-by-step drill to help you master the undulation technique is available at enjoy-swimming.com
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Lap Swim Etiquette: Lessons from the Road
 Lap swimming is just like driving a car. Think of each lap lane as its own highway, each side going in opposite directions. Lanes can hold more swimmers by following the circle swim pattern - staying to the right and swimming counterclockwise.
Slow to fast | While driving on the highway, the outside lanes are for slower cars while the faster moving cars are delegated to the inside lanes. In the same manner, a swimmer's speed can dictate lane choice. If you are continually passing other swimmers or being passed, then you may need to "change lanes." Swimmers should observe lane speed and make an appropriate lane change if needed.
Use of signals | When entering a lane, it is important for others using the lane to be aware of the addition. Acknowledge one another. Passing with caution is permitted. If you need to pass a swimmer in your lane, pass safely on the left. To avoid collisions, do not pass near walls. Please be courteous; participants are asked not to impede the progress of others.
Congestion or heavy use times | Pool lanes at the recreation centers may accommodate six swimmers comfortably, more during competitive practice. In times of heavy traffic, you may have to adjust your swimming speed or timing off the wall. Just like in driving, leave at least two body lengths of space between swimmers.
Lane reduction | There are times when a less than desirable amount of lane space is available due to registered programs or maintenance. Be considerate as lane space becomes congested.
Officers | Lifeguards are available to assist as needed. They ensure that proper safety protocols are followed and can assist with moving swimmers into appropriate lanes.
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Aquatic Instructor Finishes on Top at Sandman Triathlon
 Staff member Lauren Frisk was the top female finisher in the Sandman Triathlon that took place on September 15 at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The sprint-distance triathlon consisted of a 750-meter ocean swim, 14-mile bike ride and 5k (3.1 mile) run.
Lauren is no stranger to competing in triathlons and had participated in both sprint and Olympic distances prior to attending UVA, but really got into it after college. A Cox High School graduate, she nurtured her love for distance running while on the Cox Cross Country team, and she's proud to say that she still holds a record for her 5k run time. It was later on that she developed an increased passion for cycling and now is part of the Bike Beat cycle team. Though swimming is her least favorite portion of the race, Lauren is an avid swimmer and squeezes in swimming workouts between teaching swimming lessons at the recreation centers.
Lauren leads a busy life while currently enrolled in an accelerated nursing program at ECPI and tries to fit in training when she can. She says, "No amount of exercise is too small." If you can do a 10-minute run before you start your day or a 15-minute swim after teaching, it all adds up and is better than doing nothing. For newbie triathletes, she suggests swimming at least one open swim before race day. Open-water swimming is completely different than swimming in a pool and is the hardest part to get comfortable with for most athletes.
For more tips on training, come out and participate in Lauren's Adult Swim Workout on Monday and Wednesday nights, 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm at Seatack Recreation Center. The cost is $4 or 4 punches on a group fitness punch card; unlimited group fitness passes also accepted. Membership or day pass required. For additional information, please call Seatack Recreation Center at (757) 437-4858.
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Please Note Our Upcoming Facility ClosuresBow Creek Recreation Center is closed for a long-term modernization project. All Virginia Beach Recreation Centers, Owl Creek Tennis Center and administrative offices
will be closed on Thursday & Friday, November 28 & 29 for Thanksgiving. Staffed parks will be closed on Thursday, November 28 only.
Don't forget that your membership is good at all Virginia Beach Recreation Centers! If your usual center is closed, take the opportunity to visit another center. Use this locator to help you find one!
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Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation believes all of our diverse citizens have a right to participate in community recreation and we are committed to creating equal access for everyone who may have a challenge or barrier. If you or your child requires additional support, we can help. Learn more about our accommodation and inclusion services. |
We welcome your comments and questions. Feel free to email us at fun@VBgov.com. |
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Virginia Beach Parks & Recreation is accredited by CAPRA,
the certifying agency of the National Recreation and Park Association. |
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