28 February 2012

Boating Sports tomorrow night

I have emailed the groups for tomorrow night, if your name is not on one of the lists, you are more than welcome to join in at Ngawhatu Pool to continue your swimming at your own pace. The gate will be open from 6.00pm - 6.05pm.

Scuba, Waka Ama and Kayaking have all been filled - so if you cannot make tomorrow night's session, please let me know asap so that I can offer your spot to someone else. Remember, you need to attend tomorrow night's session if you want to attend the following week for the three boating sports, as the majority of the safety information will be covered at the session tomorrow evening.

Please remember to let your instructors know if you are not a confident swimmer or have any concerns about being on the water - it is imperative that they are aware before you get on one of the boats.

As always, keep active and I'll see you tomorrow night,

Regards,
Amanda

22 February 2012

Sea Swimming Tonight!

Well! We seem to be having such great luck with the weather on this series ....!!!

This rain seems to have well and truly settled in, which will make visibility in the water for practicing the skills of sighting etc rather difficult - so we will cancel the sea swimming session tonight. Not to worry though, if you are still keen to get wet, then meet me at the Abel Tasman Statue carpark and we can go for a walk/jog instead - that way we can keep warm while still being active and enjoying sunny Nelson weather. ;)

Karen Bateman from the Tri Club has said that anyone really keen to have a go at sea swimming this season, is more than welcome to come along to the Summer Sea Swim Series, held on Thursday nights from the yacht club, and to introduce themselves to her (she will be located at Registration). She will then go over the main points and help guide you through the short course option that they have available each week. There are three more weeks left of the series. I will email some more details soon.

Averil has said that if you want to go swimming tonight, then turn up at the Ngawhatu Gates at 6pm - and Carolyn will let you in to do some lap swimming at your own pace.

20 February 2012

Sea Swimming this week

This week we have our sea swimming session at Tahuna Beach. 6.30pm - 7.30pm.

We will meet in the Abel Tasman statue carpark (Rocks Rd end of the beach) where the Nelson Triathlon Club will talk to us about the sport and what is involved before we enter the water. For this session, we swim parallel to shore, so that you can stand on the bottom at all times and are never far from the shore.

You need to wear a swimming cap during this session (if you don't have one, let me know and I can bring a spare for you to borrow), and it is recommended that you bring some warm clothing to wear whilst on the beach listening at the start (and for after). A drink bottle of water is often nice once you come out of the water too, to rinse out the salty taste from your mouth. If you have a wetsuit, feel free to bring it, but by no means do you need one.

I am busy planning the groups for the following two weeks of boating sports, and there are a few spots in each category left, so if you didn't let me know on Wednesday night your preference, please email me with your full name, then the sport with a number next to it in order of preference. ie if you would like to try scuba the most, then kayaking, then reply to me Your Name, Scuba (1), Kayaking (2) ....

Please note that there are only limited spots for each sport, so you may not get your first preference.

A reminder of the different options:
Scuba - based at ASB Aquatic Centre, exact time still to be confirmed with Dom from Awesome Scuba, but looking likely to be 6.30pm - 7.30pm (half hour session of scuba, and half hour of snorkelling).

Waka Ama - based from the Nelson Marina, 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Kayaking - first week at Migym, 6.30pm - 7.30pm, second week from the Trafalgar Centre Carpark boat ramp (two time sessions, starting at 6.30pm and 7.30pm - you will need to liase with Jane Martin at the first week's session as to your start time for the following week).

Swimming - continue working on your swimming at your own pace at Ngawhatu Pool (6.00pm - 7.00pm).

For the three sports of scuba, waka ama and kayaking, you need to commit to both weeks to be able to attend. The number allocated for each sport is based on how many can fit in each boat, therefore it is not fair on the others in your group if you do not show for that second week.

The first week the majority of the session will be on safety and the different aspects of the boat and sport, technique etc (eg for kayaking at migym for that first session you will utilise the club ergs that are housed there to go over the paddling technique). It is compulsory that you attend the first week to be able to attend the second.

You also do need to be a reasonably confident swimmer, whilst capsizing is unlikely in either waka ama or kayaking, it is always a possibility, therefore if you are not confident in the water at keeping afloat, please talk to your instructor before getting in the water so that they are fully aware and can assess whether it is the best option for you. Otherwise, feel free to give me a call or email to discuss further.

Keep active and I will see you on Wednesday at the beach,

07 February 2012

Swimming this week

This week on Wednesday night we continue our swim sessions at Ngawahtu Pool.

A reminder that the pool entrance (at the end of Ngawhatu Rd, off Suffolk Rd) is kept locked by gate, so if you are running late for any of the sessions, you will need to park outside the entrance and then walk through to the pool.

If you have a kickboard at home, please hunt it out and bring it with you. I will be bringing a pile, however, the more we have, the easier it will be for the instructors and the drills they set.

6.15pm Groupings Arrival
I will be at the gate to let vehicles in between 6.10pm and 6.15pm (I may even be there earlier this week), then will lock the gate. If you arrive after that time, you will need to park on Ngawhatu Road and then walk through to the pool. One of the conditions of our use of the pool is that this gate is kept locked at all times.

6.45pm Groupings Arrival
I will then pop back out to the gate to allow those arriving later for their 6.45pm swim start to drive in (between 6.40pm and 6.45pm), and will then pop out just after 6.50pm to allow those from their 6.15pm start to exit with their vehicles.

For those of you that will want to use the changing rooms in this session, can I ask that you once again utilise the Mens changing sheds, that way when the group that hires the pool after us arrives at 7.15pm, they have a clear run in the change sheds (we use the Mens and they can use the Womens) – there are no Men in our group (obviously - apart from Jon and Nige, two of our instructors) or their group, so no worries about someone coming in on you!

If you want to make it a bit easier on yourself, consider borrowing some googles and a swimming cap (I have some spares if you want me to bring some out, just let me know) - it can make it easier sometimes to put your head under if you're not battling stray hairs and chlorine eyes.

A reminder that these sessions are to give you a few pointers on technique and water confidence, they are not one on one personal sessions, so try and get to the pool again to practice the drills the instructors give you.

EVENTS COMING UP
Entries to the 25th Taylors Nelson Women's Triathlon are open - full details can be found on http://nelsonevents.co.nz/content/taylors-nelson-womens-triathlon

The Tussock Spirit of the Moutere Cycle Ride is also coming up (March 11th), and this year has a short course option of 19km, which may suit those of you training up for the tri, or those just keen to get out on to the country for the morning and relax at the Estates post ride. All adult finishers receive a bottle of Tussock Wine at Woollaston Estates following the ride, plus Nelson Events will offer any Activator Participant a $10 discount off entry - just write Activator on your entry form when deducting from the fee.

More details on: http://nelsonevents.co.nz/content/tussock-spirit-moutere

Don't forget the Heart Foundation's 6hr Spin Challenge up at migym on Friday the 17th of February - I've started a team, so if you want to join me, then $15 donation per person to the Heart Foundation for either a half hour or hour spin - your choice! Just let me know what time between 11.00am and 5.00pm suits you best. They will have instructors up the front for the whole six hours, so you can either follow the programme or just spin away at your own leisure. All good fun for a fantastic cause. Better yet - get your workplace or community group entered with a team, and take the afternoon off work!

NBS NELSON STRIDERS
The Summer Series has now finished, so Striders resume their normal Tuesday evening jog and walk, 5.45pm from the carpark opposite the Suter Art Gallery on Bridge St. All welcome - weather looks stunning today, so might be a nice way to spend the evening. They will start their Off Road Series for three weeks beginning Feb 21st.

In the meantime, as always, keep active and I'll see you on Wednesday evening