Monday and Thursdays at 7-8AM. Other times throughout the week too.

The Program

The program was developed by a swim coach and designed with the paddler in mind alternating between sprints and endurance laps. It focuses on maintaining/improving our cardiovascular and muscular fitness through the winter so that we are in excellent shape when we start paddling again in the Spring rather than spend 2 months just getting back in shape. There are 15 levels so, depending on your fitness levels or swimming ability, we can just start on the one you are most comfortable with.

Recreation Center Membership

First thing you need to do is get your membership at the Chelsea Recreation Center. The center is located at 430 West 25th Street between 9th and 10th Avenue. You have to register in person M-F between 7:30AM and 9PM or Saturdays between 9AM and 3:30PM. Membership is $75 for the year or $37.50 for six months. This will give you access not only to the pool but to the rest of the facility and any other recreation facility in the city.
For more information, go to their website or call 212.255.3705

Pool Rules

The pool requires you to wear a swim cap and goggles. We use pool buoys and kickboards as part of our program. They provide a limited number for member use but many purchase their own. The lanes are divided into slow, medium and fast lanes. Choose your lanes accordingly. They have locker rooms and shower facilities but you are required to bring a lock. They require a strong key lock. You will need to bring your own towel.

Practice Times

We try to practice as a group on various weekday mornings starting at 7AM. We are loosely scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays but it all depends on our weekly schedules. If you can’t make those days or if it seems there is a critical mass on other days, we could have other groups as well. Though we like to swim as a group because it’s more motivational, there’s no reason that you can’t just swim yourself when you have time. The ultimate goal is to swim 2 to 3 times a week.

Go to the Chelsea Recreation Center website, click on Facility Schedule and scroll down to Pool-Lap Swimming for their pool hours. They are open weekdays and Saturday early in the morning and weekday early afternoons and evenings.

For more information, please contact Keith Tsang or Susan Skinner.