Neptunes take positive approach to 2016 Kootenay Summer Swim Association Season
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It hasn’t been easy running a summer swim program in Nelson during the past few years.
Constant upgrades to the Nelson and District Aquatic Centre has forced the Nelson Neptunes to pack their bags for alternate pools to keep the program alive.
This season, the Neptunes have adopted the slogan of “Have goggles will travel” as the team builds for the upcoming 2016 Kootenay Summer Swim Association Season.
“Due to the renovation closure of their home pool in Nelson for the entire competitive season, the Neptunes will be swimming around the region,” said Chad Badry of the Neptunes executive on the eve of the season opening day for the Heritage City club, May 1.
Badry said the Neptunes will start the season swimming five times a week at the Castlegar Aquatic Centre for the month of May and then move their home base to the Salmo outdoor pool for June, July and August.
“For the second time in history that anyone on the team can recall, a swim meet will be held in Salmo at the end of June,” Badry said.
“This will bring hundreds of athletes and families to Salmo and area.”
Badry said the Neptunes have dipped into his graduation list to hire Nialan Collier as team skipper.
Joining Collier is long time Neptune Sage Cowan for the first part of the summer until returning head coach Cynthia Pfeiffer joins the team later in the season.
Badry said the three Neptunes recently completed their level 1 National Coaching Certification which will be a great contribution to the swim coaching and succession planning for the team.
This year, the Neptunes are offering a new program in Salmo for the month of June called Introduction to Competitive Swimming.
Swimmers who want to give speed swimming a try can practice with the team with reduced commitment and cost.
Then they can take part in the swim meet in Salmo at the end of the month.
Badry said Neptunes are hopeful that the prospect of a season like no other will make a difference in the enrolment numbers.
Coaching staff is planning plenty of dryland training and a few open water swims in Nelson as well to help reduce the travel.
Badry said last year these events included a game of quidditch, hikes up Pulpit Rock, early morning cardio, and some carefully chaperoned open water swims from Lakeside Park.
For more information or to register a swimmer, go to www.nelsonneptunes.com.
