- May 5, 2023
- 2 min read

Dive Start Clinics Away Smartly

A recap of the recent clinics and the next clinic date announced

We are stoked to share the success of recent Dive Start clinics held at national events. At the recent Apollo Projects NZ Swimming Championships in Auckland and the Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Swimming Championships in Hawke's Bay, select Aquablacks offered the incredible opportunity of Dive Start clinics for kids aged 10 - 14 years to enhance their skills in their respective strokes. Both clinics were a huge success with full sessions of 40 kids at each event.

The sessions went for 2 hours and included a dryland warm-up, a pool session on skills, and a Q&A, photo and autograph session afterwards. The Auckland session had a focus on butterfly and freestyle while the Hawke's Bay session looked at individual medley. This experience is one that will last a lifetime and allows participants to enhance their skills by learning from their heroes and some of the country's best swimmers.

The participants gained access to a wealth of knowledge as the clinics were both delivered by Aquablacks. In the Auckland session Dame Sophie Pascoe, Cameron Leslie, Cameron Gray, Zac Reid and Hazel Ouwehand delivered the session. Lewis Clareburt, Mya Rasmussen, Matt Hutchins and Willy Benson delivered the Hawke's Bay program. Both sessions received extremely positive feedback and the participants were able to take a lot away from the clinic.

One parent shared their thoughts after the clinic.

"Fantastic clinic - great for our younger swimmers to have access to their heroes and get coaches by them."

Some participants also made a trip from neighbouring regions to attend the clinic in Hawke's Bay.

"It was well worth the trip from the mighty Manawatu and the kids loved spending time in the pool with amazing inspiration from the best."

SNZ’s Head of Participation & Events, Dale Johnson, was stoked to see the success of the clinics.

"A massive thank you goes to the 9 Aquablacks who shared their skills and knowledge during the clinics. And thank you to the participants who took part, we look forward to providing more of these opportunities at SNZ events and some additional opportunities around the country across the rest of this year."

Another Clinic Announced

Following the positive feedback and great interest in the first two clinics, we are pleased to announce the dates for the next Dive Start Clinic to be held in between sessions of the last day of racing at the 2023 Apollo Projects Division II Swimming Competition. Lewis Clareburt Helena Gasson and Willy Benson will be back for the same Individual Medley skills clinic in Wellington.