PJCC Aquatics Newsletter: January 2020

In This Issue:

• Swim Tip of the Month
• Instructor of the Month
• Join the PJCC Aquatics Team!
• Deadlines and Registration Reminders

Swim Tip of the Month

Tips for First-Time Alcatraz Swimmers
You’ve been working on your form, your breathing, and your endurance. You’ve upped your mental game. Now, you’re ready to embark on a major open-water swim like Alcatraz, right?!

Don’t dive in just yet! First, take these tips from PJCC Personal Trainer Karen Pinckard, who has made the swim more than ten times!

• First of all, train hard for this swim. Get at least 1.5 miles in the pool before attempting it.
• Wear a wetsuit for both the Alcatraz swim and your training in the pool.
• It’s important to train in the open water to get used to the cold temperature. It is a completely different experience than swimming laps in the pool. Most pools are between 79 and 81 degrees. The Bay is 49 to 60 on average. Swimming in the Bay is rough—lots of waves and the water is murky. So much so that you can’t see your own arm underwater.
• Wear ear plugs to keep warm—yep, it really helps.
• Take cold showers every day for about a month before the race.

Be brave, confident, and go swim!

Instructor of the Month

Jennifer Isomatsu

Meet Jennifer Isomatsu, our instructor of the month!

A true aquatics aficionado, Jennifer has swum competitively for twelve years. And her talents don’t stop there! She’s currently studying 3D animation, and is fluent in Japanese. She can also ride a unicycle (presumably, not underwater!). It also turns out that aquatics is a family affair for Jennifer: she’s one of three siblings (brother 17 and sister 14) that also swim.

As for Jennifer’s own swim goals: her dream is to travel to Hawaii to compete in the open-water race.

Jennifer reports that she loves getting to know our swim students—members of her swim family, so please say hello when you see her on the pool deck! (How to recognize her? She’s featured in this month’s newsletter header!)

Join the PJCC Aquatics Team!

Interested in becoming part of our Aquatics professional team? We’re looking for dedicated staff to lifeguard, teach swim lessons, and coach our Barracuda youth swim team. PJCC will provide certification training. Employment includes complimentary PJCC Center Membership, as well as additional PJCC benefits and discounts. Learn more by contacting Aquatics Manager Gina Livingston at glivingston@pjcc.org.

Deadlines, Registration Reminders, and More

Important Reminders

• If your child is going to spend prolonged time in the water, please have them wear water shoes to protect the soles of tender feet.
• If your child is under the age of 7 years old, they must be accompanied by an adult at all times, before and after classes as well. This means we need you in the water with them!
• Only “U.S. Coast Guard-approved” flotation devices are allowed in our pools. For your convenience, we have several complimentary “puddle jumpers” available for use. These can be found on the indoor pool deck.

Registration Made Easy!

1. Visit our Aquatics Office
2. Call 650.378.2782

Cancellations Due by the 15th
Cancellations must be made in writing by the 15th of the current month for a next-month cancellation. “In writing” means one of two ways:

• Filling out a form in person at the Aquatics Office.
• Sending an email clearly stating the month in which you would like to cancel. All emails must be sent to aquatics@pjcc.org.

January Holiday Break Dates

• Wednesday, January 1 – Sunday, January 5 (Holiday Break)
• Monday, January 20 (Martin Luther King Day)

Missed Classes: We do not offer make up classes for missed classes. In some cases, we will honor a doctor’s note if the child was seen by a physician and make arrangements for a swim lesson credit.

Complimentary Swim Evaluations
Not sure of your class level? Our swim instructors will meet with your child in the water to assess their swim proficiency and place them in the appropriate level. To schedule your free evaluation, call our Aquatics Office today at 650.378.2782!