Greenville Triathlon Club Winter Swim Clinic

GVL Tri Club is offering a winter swim clinic for beginner and intermediate swimmers in FOUR separate cohorts. You may only register for ONE cohort.

All sessions will take place at the Prisma Health Family Y (550 Brookwood Point Place, Simpsonville, SC)

Beginner Tuesdays 6:30pm

• Mobility Clinic Saturday, January 9th, 2027 3-5pm in the new gymnasium
• Tuesdays January 12, 19, 26, February 1, 9, 16, 23, and March 2, 6:30-7:30pm in the covered pool

Intermediate Tuesdays 7:30pm

• Mobility Clinic Saturday, January 9th, 2027 3-5pm in the new gymnasium
• Tuesdays January 12, 19, 26, February 1, 9, 16, 23, and March 2, 7:30-8:30pm in the covered pool
• The Y closes at 9pm, so you will have 30 minutes to shower or change in the locker room if you so choose. 

Beginner Fridays 6:00am

• Mobility Clinic Saturday, January 9th, 2027 3-5pm in the new gymnasium
• Fridays January 8, 15, 22, 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26 6:00-7:00am in the covered pool 
• *Note the Friday pool sessions start the week before the Tuesday cohort pool sessions and the day before the mobility clinic 

Intermediate Fridays 7:00am

• Mobility Clinic Saturday, January 9th, 2027 3-5pm in the new gymnasium
• Fridays January 8, 15, 22, 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26 7:00-8:00am in the covered pool 
• *Note the Friday pool sessions start the week before the Tuesday cohort pool sessions and the day before the mobility clinic 

Mobility Clinic

• All cohorts together
• Dry-land swim-specific mobility clinic
• Wear athletic clothing and bring an exercise mat

Pool Sessions

• Plan to arrive 15 min early if possible, for mobility warmup.
• Wear a bathing suit and goggles. Triathlon kits are also acceptable. Wetsuits are discouraged.
• Please bring a water bottle, swim cap, paddles, fins, ankle straps, and buoys if you have them, but these are not required to participate.

What level should I register for?

• To make sure every swimmer gets the best coaching experience, please register for the group that best matches your current ability. Below are some guidelines to help make the best decision. We recognize that many people may feel like they are in between levels. 
• We reserve the right to adjust group placements for safety, optimal coaching ratios, and lane availability.
• Beginner
  • For swimmers who are new to swimming or building comfort and efficiency in the water. This group is for you if:
    • You are learning to swim freestyle
    • You cannot yet swim 200 yards without stopping.
    • You need to work on breathing, body position, and comfort in the water.
    • You have not yet participated in an open water swim or triathlon. People who have completed a pool triathlon may be appropriate for beginner or intermediate, depending on other factors in these lists. 
    • Goals for this group: Build water confidence, breathing rhythm, and basic freestyle form to prepare for triathlon.
• Intermediate
  • For swimmers or triathletes looking to improve endurance, efficiency, and open-water readiness. This group is for you if:
    • You can swim 400 yards continuously without stopping.
    • You can swim 100 yards in 2:15 or faster.
    • You have completed any open water swim or triathlon (of any distance).
    • You are comfortable in the deep end and can tread water for 1 minute.
    • Goals for this group: Refine technique, improve pacing and endurance, and introduce or enhance open-water skills such as sighting and drafting.

What will be included in the clinic?

• Entry into the Prisma Health Family Y for the specified times
• Swim mobility screening with baseline ranges of motions documented for each swimmer 
• Tailored mobility improvement plan
• Regular individual feedback from a head coach there each week as well as a rotation of guest coaches
• These will be technique-focused clinics, not necessarily rigorous workouts. You will be assigned "homework" in the form of skills, drills, and mobility exercises to work on between sessions to enhance your improvement, so it is recommended you have some kind of pool access between clinic each week for practicing the skills you've learned. The Y is waiving joining fees for all swim clinic participants if you choose to join the YMCA of Greenville. 
• You will be sent an instructional video to watch ahead of each session discussing the concepts we'll be covering that week. Please watch this video before arriving to get the most benefit from your swim session. Please do not share these videos outside of the swim clinic Whatsapp. 
• Your stroke will be filmed and this file shared with you electronically

What if I can't come every week?

• Clinic purchase price includes the mobility clinic and your 8 scheduled in-the-water sessions. Price will not be reduced or refunded if you have schedule conflicts.
• If you will miss one or two of your normal days and know you can come on the other day (Tuesday vs Friday), you may use this option once or twice. But as lane reservations and guest coaches are arranged based off your scheduled cohort, we ask that you do not abuse this and two sessions is the max this will be allowed. Keep in mind that Friday cohort starts the week before Tuesday cohort for synchronizing subject matter. 

Techniques and Skills covered:

• Water safety
• Body position
• Breathing
• Arm recovery
• Hand entry
• Pull
• Kick
• Open water specific skills
• Speed

What memberships are required? 

• While Greenville Tri Club membership is not required, it is strongly encouraged. 2027 GVL Tri Club members get $20 off the swim clinic with their $25 membership (discount auto applied if using same RunSignUp account). Become a member at www.GVLtri.org
• USA Triathlon Membership, however, is required, and this requirement is beyond the club's control. However, if you plan to do any triathlons in the USA in the next year, you will likely need this membership anyway. Learn more at https://www.usatriathlon.org/membership 
• Y membership is not required for entry to the swim clinic, BUT you must have a membership at some pool outside of clinic to practice what you've learned, and the Y is generously waiving joining fees for all swim clinic participants if you choose to join during the clinic. Just let them know you're with the GVL Tri clinic!