Holiday? Swimmers get to work

While most young people are resting and relaxing during the Christmas holidays, local swimmers will be busy training.

With two meets under their caps this season, and a lot of important events on the horizon, members of the Prince Albert Sharks Swim Club are preparing to hone their skills - and stamina - to a fine, fevered pitch this holiday season.

"Unfortunately for them, when they get a school break like this, the training picks up," said Sharks head coach Gord Shields. "When they're off school we swim harder, longer and faster."

The sometimes-gruelling training sessions will last for 2-3 hours, twice a day, and go seven days a week except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. During that time, the swimmers will log between 6,000 and 7,000 metres per diem.

Mitchel Robin, who won a gold medal and two silvers at a recent meet in Edmonton, isn't especially looking forward to the increased workload. In fact, when asked if he was going to enjoy the holiday training sessions, the 13-year-old simply said: "Not really. No. "

Sharks teammate Scott Mills, who won two gold medals and a silver at the same Edmonton meet, is one of the lucky ones: the 15-year-old swimmer does not have to attend every practice session - though he might get in some work on a sunny beach.

"I'm going to Mexico for half of (the vacation), but I'll be (at the pool) for the rest."

Shields says these trainings sessions, while definitely intensive, will help his swimmers' performances in the long run.

"The training they do at Christmas is huge," he said, "It will set them up for some really fast times in the new year."

In a nutshell, that is why the swim team's training regimen is about to change.

During the first portion of the season, the Sharks worked mainly on technique. But with the new year approaching with meets including provincials, it's time for the club to switch gears.

"Come Christmastime, it's all about higher volume," said Shields. "We're going to do the most swimming we can and focus on hard work."

ahawboldt@paherald.sk.ca