Where does Breakwater Masters Train?
All practices are held at the Crystal Pool located at 2275 Quadra Street, Victoria, British Columbia.
What age range?
18+
What is the range of skill levels within the club?
While there is no minimum fitness, speed, or endurance level required, new members should be comfortable in the water, including in the deep end of the pool, and able to swim front crawl for 2 lengths of a 50-metre pool comfortably (100 metres total).
Will my swimming skills improve?
Our coaches focus on technique, and there are always a variety of drills that help to improve your stroke. Workouts are tailored to swimmers’ fitness levels and goals.
I have pretty good technique, but don’t have the endurance or speed that you might expect from a club swimmer. How is this sort of thing accommodated?
You can start at your own pace in the lane you feel comfortable in. Your fitness and speed will improve with consistent training. You are welcome to share your goals with the coaches.
Is it ok if I can only swim freestyle?
Freestyle is the main stroke used in practices, but practices will involve swimming all strokes. Workouts can be modified to accommodate an individuals’ abilities in the different strokes. When modifying workouts, it is important that swimmers continue to move at approximately the same speed as others in their lane.
How many swimmers are there per lane?
For short course evening practices (25 metres), the average is five swimmers per lane. For long course morning practices (50 metres), there are about seven swimmers per lane.
Can you provide a sense of the types of sets I would be swimming so I can see the type of distances that I would be expected to cover; or the times that I might see on a set (e.g. 100m on 2:00, etc.).
Pace times and typical distances vary by lane. For 100 metres freestyle, pace times might vary from 1:30 for the fastest lane to 2:30 for the slowest. Typically we swim between 2 and 3 kilometres per practice.
I have a medical condition and am interested in swimming again. Can I join this club?
As with all health conditions or concerns, please speak to your doctor before jumping in. If you do join, please make sure your coaches are aware of your condition and how to best support you.
How much does it cost?
Breakwater Masters Swim Club fees are based on a cost-recovery model. All members must also be registered with Swim BC. The Swim BC registration fee is paid once per season (September 1 to August 31).
Why do we have to register with Swim BC?
Registration with Swim BC provides swimmers with insurance and allows them to compete in Masters swim meets if they choose. The Swim BC registration fee is collected by the Breakwater Masters Swim Club at the time of registration and then remitted to Swim BC.
When does the season start and end?
- Our programs run from September through August.
How many times a week are practices?
- Both morning and evening masters are 3 times per week.
When are practices?
- Morning masters swim Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 6:15 to 7:30 a.m.
- Evening masters swim Monday, Wednesday from 5:45 to 7:00 p.m. and Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.
- Saturday masters swim Saturdays from 8:45 to 10:00 a.m.
- Friday masters swim Fridays from 6 to 7 p.m.
When can I register?
- Current Breakwater Masters Swim Club members will receive an invitation to register for the next season on the August long weekend.
- Members on the waiting list are invited to fill any remaining spots later in August, after the registration deadline for current members.
Is there a waiting list?
Yes, all of our programs are typically fully subscribed and Breakwater maintains a waitlist. As spaces become available, we will contact people on the list. If you would like to join the waitlist, please complete the form here.
How does the waiting list work?
The Breakwater Masters waiting list uses a points system to determine who is eligible for spots that become available. Wait-listed swimmers earn a point for each month on the waitlist, 10 points for being a current member of a Breakwater program and 5 points for being a past Breakwater member. When spots become available, they are offered to the swimmer with the highest number of points on the waiting list. If that swimmer declines the spot, it is then offered to the swimmer with the next-highest point total.
How do I pay?
You can pay by:
- e-Transfer or
- Contact the Registrar for other options.
Can I join mid-season?
Yes, if there is room in the program, new members are welcome to join during the season. A surcharge will apply to registrations for less than the full season.
Will I be reimbursed if a practice is cancelled unexpectedly (e.g. for weather, maintenance or Crystal Pool staffing issues)?
Fees will not be reimbursed if the pool is closed unexpectedly for fewer than 3 practices within a season. Breakwater will consider options to reimburse swimmer fees when three or more practices within a season are cancelled unexpectedly (e.g. weather, Crystal Pool maintenance or staffing issues).
Will I be eligible for a refund if I need to withdraw from the club (e.g. moving away)?
If the spot can be filled through the Breakwater waitlist, a refund of prorated fees (Swim BC registration fee is non-refundable) will be provided. Otherwise, the Treasurer will consider the state of the Breakwater Masters Swim Club finances to determine both whether a refund can be provided, and if so, to calculate the amount of the refund.
If I cannot attend practices for an extended period of time within a season will I be eligible for a refund?
Members who wish to remain with the club but cannot attend for a minimum of 3 consecutive months of the current season due to unforeseen reasons (e.g., illness, injury), can submit a request to the Breakwater Masters Swim Club board for consideration of a refund (Swim BC registration fee is non-refundable). Refunds will be reviewed at the end of the season and issued at the discretion of the board subject to finances.
If I cannot attend a practice in the program I am registered in, can I drop in on another program to make it up?
As all of our programs are operating at capacity, we cannot allow swimmers to swap between programs when they miss a practice. Please do not drop into a program that you are not registered in.