Area Swimmers got "Fitter and Faster" this Weekend

Easton, PA- The PennJersey Aquatic Center helped over 50 age group competitive swimmers from across the Lehigh Valley hone their skills at a “Fitter and Faster Swim Camp” this weekend at Eddyside and Heil Pools in Easton.

During the two day camp swimmers "dove deep" into the technique for all four racing strokes. Friday at Eddyside, swimmers drilled breaststroke and butterfly, the strokes share many technical attributes, and can be challenging strokes to master due to the importance of rhythm and timing. Saturday at Heil, covered freestyle and backstroke, they utilize the same kick, body position, posture, rotation, and an early catch; by improving these complex skills swimmers can become faster and more powerful.

Asked about what prompted the clinic, PennJersey Aquatic Center Vice President and Nazareth Easton YMCA Swim Team Head Coach Dennis Drake said," I wanted to give opportunities to kids to hear from some high-level national swimmers and Olympic trials qualifiers. We want to reinforce some of the basics, maybe learn something new." Drake continued, "Plus there is also the star quality of seeing somebody who has swam at that level and hearing things that maybe you've watched on YouTube or you’ve heard your own coaches say, to get it in person from somebody that has swam at that high level really reinforces it."

Camp sessions were led by University of Georgia NCAA All-American and 2 x Olympic Trials Qualifier Coach Atiba Wade. "What I like about Fitter and Faster Swim Camps, when I'm coaching, I get a chance to work individually with swimmers, working on the basic skills. I can introduce them to new skill sets, reinforce skill sets, or enhance skill sets," said Coach Wade when asked about what makes Fitter and Faster camps different. "Being able to make swimmers better at the basics is what I enjoy the most and having an opportunity to do that in a smaller, more intimate environment is what I find to be the most effective."

In discussing the camp Coach Drake also spoke about the PennJersey Aquatic Center’s mission," The Penn Jersey Aquatic Center is a non profit organization that's dedicated to building an aquatic facility in the Lehigh Valley that is actually run for aquatic programming and aquatic sports. It may sound ironic, there are a lot of pools in the Valley, but none of them, whether you look at community pools, school pools, or YMCA pools, none of them are run strictly for aquatic programming and do not have aquatic sports as their primary mission. So that’s a big gap in the area and a space we want the PennJersey Aquatic Center to fill."

The nonprofit was founded last year and has already met with potential site owners and architects to discuss feasibility and design focusing on urban infill development or developing old or unused existing buildings.

“Whether its competitive swimming, competitive water polo, artistic swimming, adaptive aquatics, water aerobics, learn to swim, scuba and lifeguard certifications there is a need for a facility purposefully designed to support these activities and available to the public. We want to be able to equip the community with the life-saving skill of swimming and continue to grow aquatic sports in the Valley.”

More information about the PennJersey Aquatic Center can be found on their website: pennjerseyaquatics.org .

More information about the Fitter & Faster Swim Camps can be found on their site: Fitterandfaster.com