Championship Preparation: Starts, Turns, Underwaters & More Swim Camp

The Claremont Club
1777 Monte Vista Ave, Claremont, CA 91711

Introduction

Fitter & Faster is producing a 2-day swim camp at The Claremont Club in Claremont, California on November 30 & December 1, 2024! This camp will help your swimmer improve their performances at “last chance qualifier meets” and at their Championship Meets! 

CHAMPIONSHIP PREPARATION: STARTS, TURNS, UNDERWATERS & MORE SWIM CAMP
DAY 1 (Saturday, November 30): Explosive Starts, Underwaters & Breakouts
DAY 2 (Sunday, December 1): Fast Flip Turns, Open Turns & Finishes

Scroll down for details on the curriculum!
-> Availability in each session is limited to ensure the highest level learning experience.
-> SAVE when you purchase the “Entire Camp Bundle” for your swimmer's age group. 
-> Due to high demand, we have added bonus sessions for swimmers ages 9 to 12.

SESSION START TIMES FOR BOTH DAYS:
Ages 9 to 12: Check in 8:45 AM, Camp 9-11:30 AM
Ages 13 & over: Check in 12:15 PM, Camp 12:30-3:30 PM
BONUS SESSIONS (Ages 9 to 12): Check in 4 PM, Camp 4:15-6:45 PM

Suggested Participants

Our top priority is to provide a world-class learning experience for all participants at all of our camps. This camp has sessions for swimmers ages 9 to 12 and 13 & older. Participants will range from one-year of competitive swimming experience to AAAA times and faster. If you are the parent of a child under the age of 9 and would like for your child to be considered for the younger sessions of this camp, please complete this questionnaire.

Curriculum

CHAMPIONSHIP PREPARATION: STARTS, TURNS, UNDERWATERS & MORE SWIM CAMP - November 30 & December 1

This camp is designed to give your swimmer a competitive edge, helping them achieve peak performance at those crucial "last chance qualifier meets" and Championship Meets. By focusing on refining starts, turns, and underwater technique, your swimmer will gain valuable fractions of a second that can make all the difference in securing a qualifying spot or reaching the podium.

    Day 1 (Saturday, November 30): EXPLOSIVE STARTS, UNDERWATERS & BREAKOUTS

    The better a swimmer’s technique is off the starting block, the more speed they will carry into the water. Day 1 of this swim camp will help your swimmer improve their start, underwater dolphin kicking and breakouts! This sequence is not only the fastest part of every race, but it is also the part of the race in which elite swimmers cover the most ground with the most efficiency.

    • BLOCK STARTS: To ensure an explosive start, a swimmer needs to set themselves up properly on the block. The elite clinicians will work with participants on the optimal positioning of your swimmer’s entire body to allow for a quick reaction time and optimal speed.
    • WATER ENTRY: Starting the race with a smooth entry into the water will boost your swimmer's speed and carry the momentum generated off the block or wall. Becoming skilled at the water entry is crucial for any start and significantly contributes to your swimmers' overall race!
    • STREAMLINE: The streamline - when done properly - is the fastest a swimmer travels while in the water. Proper streamlines are even faster than underwater dolphin kicking. Even the most elite swimmers in the world are constantly working on improving their streamline. Your swimmer will get tips to improve their streamline and a better appreciation of what they need to do on every single wall in practice and in races.
    • INITIATING UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING: Top age group and elite swimmers maximize their streamline on every single lap. They don’t start their underwater dolphin kicking while they’re still achieving maximum speed in their streamline! They also don’t want to start the underwater dolphin kicking after their streamline has begun to slow. Your swimmer is going to learn how to time when to begin their underwater dolphin kicking.
    • POWERFUL UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING: There are a few different techniques that swimmers use when underwater dolphin kicking. The common theme of these techniques is that the best swimmers kick up and down with equal power. We will show your swimmer the different techniques that elite swimmers use and teach them how to implement.
    • NUMBER OF UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKS: Figuring out the optimal number of kicks off each wall, for each race, is essential to fast swimming. Elite swimmers want to spend only the absolute necessary amount of time underwater to establish speed with each length. They want to avoid losing their breath and taking weak kicks.
    • BREAKOUTS: Many swimmers unintentionally add movements in their breakouts that reduce speed by creating drag. In this camp, participants will focus on perfecting their breakout timing to maintain momentum and power into each lap.

    Day 2 (Sunday, December 1): FAST FLIP TURNS, OPEN TURNS & FINISHES

    Quick, powerful turns and finishes are crucial to fast times and winning close races. The top age group and elite swimmers aren't using walls just for turning around - they are used to generate speed and momentum going into the next lap. Elite swimmers are constantly working their turns and looking for areas to improve them. Today, we're going to work with your swimmer on taking this crucial part of every race (and practice) to the next level!

    • MOMENTUM: The fastest swimmers use walls to generate speed and momentum going into the next lap. Outside of the elite ranks, many swimmers stop or slow down while going into the wall, which kills their momentum! We will work with participants on the intricacies of approaching every wall at top speed and seamlessly initiating their “turn”.
    • FLIP TURNS: Flip turns are an opportunity for your swimmers to increase momentum in the middle of a race! Flip turns in which the athletes slow down or have “mechanical” movements negatively impact the speed at which a swimmer comes off the wall. We will work with your swimmer to produce fast flip turns so that they can explode off the walls at maximum speed.
    • OPEN TURNS: Elite butterflyers and breaststrokers utilize speed from their last lap to create momentum and even more speed at the beginning of the next lap. Their open turns are actually not “turns”, but more like high-speed pivots. Participants in this session will work on these techniques to have much faster open turns!
    • STREAMLINE, UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING, BREAKOUT PROGRESSION: At this session participants will continue to work on the progression covered on Day 1.
    • FINISHES: Setting yourself up for a fast finish is very similar to setting yourself up for a strong turn in any race. Races are won and lost by hundredths-of-a-second at every swim meet. Many races come down to the last few strokes. At this camp, your swimmer will learn techniques to set themselves up for a well-timed finish when they are still about 10 yards from the wall.

    ASK QUESTIONS

    Swimmers and parents are invited to ask the clinicians questions during a Q&A session. Gain insight into their training regimen, diet and nutrition, and recovery tactics.

    WATCH THE CLINICIANS

    Observe clinicians swim at full speed and demonstrate a progression of perfectly executed drills to achieve powerful, efficient and fast swimming.

    PUT YOUR SKILLS TO THE TEST

    Throughout the camp, swimmers will practice what they've learned with some of the world's most elite Swimmer Clinicians and coaches!

    Take a photo, get autographs, and chat with your clinicians!

    Inquisitive, Educated Swimmers are Faster Swimmers! Sign up today!

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    Clinicians
    Lead Clinicians

    Mazan Elkamash brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Fitter and Faster Swim Camps. He strives to create a balance between discipline and fun, ensuring swimmers are challenged while also feeling encouraged. He says, "I meet swimmers where they are and guide them toward continuous improvement."

    Russian born Pavel Romanov is a record holder at the University of Alabama and a NCAA Champion. He has a passion for studying swimming and now he is able to share all that he's learned with your swimmer. Sign up for a dynamic learning experience with Pavel!