Intensive Technique week CLUB LA SANTA, LANZAROTE

Price: £1,399pp, including use of La Santa’s sporting classes and facilities
2020 dates: 15-21 February with James Goddard (9 places left)

Cassie Patten La Santa SwimQuest Holidays

Soak up some sun at Club La Santa, Lanzarote, a world-famous sports resort. If you are comfortable swimming 1-2km in a pool, but you are looking to transform your technique, then this is the week for you. On this tour we will be joined by three time-Olympian and three-time Commonwealth Gold Medallist James Goddard, who will help you with your swimming technique. As such, this tour will combine technique sessions in the pool with some lagoon sessions. The week is suitable for swimmers of all abilities – and we have worked closely with James to ensure the week will be suitable for everyone, with an emphasis on beginners or those looking to improve their swimming. If you have not yet done so, please do speak to a member of SwimQuest staff about what you are hoping to get out of the week so that we can ensure the week is carefully structured to suit your needs. We should emphasise that this week is about refining your technique, not completing huge distances at speed.

about james goddard

James Goddard made his Great Britain debut in 2000 and at his first Commonwealth Games in 2002 won 200m Backstroke gold and 200m Individual Medley silver. At his debut Olympics two years later he won his 200m backstroke semi final, but finished an agonising fourth place in the final, 0.2 sec off the medals while at Beijing 2008 he was sixth in the individual medley. He was one of British swimming’s most consistent performers and finished fourth at the World Championships in 2011 before coming seventh in London 2012 and then retiring a year later. James will be coaching our February La Santa tour in 2018.

ABOUT CLUB LA SANTA

Club La Santa is the only resort in the world with three 50m swimming pools. Created with the dream of ‘being the world’s best playground for active people’, there are over 30 sports activities which are included in your tour price. We’re confident you’ll have a blast in and out of the water, and we’ll be sure to build in some free time for you to try your hand at some of the other sports on offer. The SwimQuest itinerary will focus on technique and stroke efficiency. There will be opportunities to improve and reflect on your technique in a pool environment before moving into open water. There will be two swims a day (some pool, some lagoon based) with video analysis and expert advice from SwimQuest guides. The itinerary also includes swim seminars, advice on planning events, and how to tackle longer distances.

USEFUL INFORMATION:

Water temperature: pool – heated / lagoon – 16-17oC
Daily swimming distance: 2 – 3 km, broken down into two swims per day; (please note this location is flexible and swims will be tailored to the needs of individuals in the group)
Group size – up to 12 guests
Age range – 16+ (for family enquiries, please contact the office)
Swimming ability: This location is suitable for beginners and intermediate swimmers
Are non-swimmers welcome? Absolutely – non-swimmers are welcome to join the tour and take advantage of Club La Santa’s amazing facilities

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Accommodation at Club La Santa (see accommodation tab for details)
Swimming itinerary, assisted by safety boats where required and always escorted by swim guide/s
Swim coaching and video analysis
Breakfasts
Lunches
SwimQuest dry bag and swim cap
VAT

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED?

Travel to and from Club La Santa, Lanzarote (guests are advised to fly into Lanzarote, we can instruct on onward travel arrangements and can help organise a transfer to the Club if you wish)
Wetsuits and fins (if required)
Evening meals
Alcohol
Single room supplement (see accommodation tab for details)

For this tour, guests stay in Club La Santa’s comfort apartments, and rooms are based on a twin share basis. If you wish, you can upgrade your room to a suite, or choose sole occupancy, subject to availability.

COMFORT apartments (allocated as standard) £1399 sharing place, £900 SUPPLEMENT FOR SOLE USE OF AN APARTMENT

Renovated during the last five years, Club La Santa's Comfort apartments consist of two single beds in bedrooms and a sofa bed in the living area. On SwimQuest tours, two people will share one apartment, however we do offer a reduced price of £1199pp should three people wish to share a one bed comfort apartment (which would mean one person sleeping on the sofa bed). An open plan living/dining area opens out onto a private terrace with a table, chairs and a washing line. The bathroom comes with a shower, and the kitchen is equipped with a two-ring hob, fridge, kettle, cafetière, toaster and microwave, as well as all of the usual utensils you would expect in a holiday apartment. All apartments have a telephone, and hair dryer. Safety deposit boxes are available for hire on request. Towels are changed daily and a cleaning service is provided 5 days a week. Disabled apartments available.

APARTMENT UPGRADES

Should you wish to upgrade to a sea view apartment or a suite, please contact the SwimQuest office so that they can check pricing and availability with La Santa.

ITINERARY

There are two planned swims per day based on how you progress during the week. Please realise that what we have detailed below is only a guide to the week and that we will adapt the week carefully for each individual and the weather. At the beginning of the week the sessions will be pool based, moving into La Santa’s open water lagoon and then on into the sea later in the week. Sea swims will be in local shallow bays and focus on acclimatisation. Swim guides will advise you each day on what is best for you, but in all cases the main objective will be to encourage you to achieve your personal goals.

SATURDAY: Safety briefing, welcome and acclimatisation Swim: 400-800m

We will meet at the hotel in the late afternoon for the mandatory safety briefing. Topics covered include: swim preparation, swim routes, feeding, prevailing weather, and safety procedures. We will then complete an acclimatisation swim in the pool. This allows the swim guides to assess your stroke and start preparing an individual plan for you for the week. Following this we will relax and have dinner, with time to discuss the week ahead. (If for any reason guests are unavoidably delayed, the briefing may be deferred to Sunday morning.)

Sunday Swim 1 AM: technique in the pool and filming (1 hour) | Swim 2 PM: seminar followed by technique in the pool (1 hour)

The day is designed to be easy, allowing you to settle in after your journey. After breakfast we will complete the safety briefing (if not completed the night before) followed by the first swim in the pool. During the session the guides will focus on swim drills to refine your stroke, and you will be filmed above and below the water. After the session, we will watch the films, offering advice and encouragement on your swim stroke. This will be a continuing theme throughout the week. Regular filming is an invaluable tool, and at the end of the tour you will receive all your films for future reference. The afternoon swim will be an introductory seminar on open water technique basics.

Monday Swim AM: 50m pool (1 hour) | Swim PM: The Lagoon & advice on sighting

After breakfast, we are back in the pool focusing on the continued development of your stroke using the video analysis and advice gained previously from your swim guides. Focus may be on the efficiency of your stroke, breathing, head position, bodyline in the water and hand entry. Whatever the swim guides suggest, in each pool session the plan is to improve and build on the quality of your stroke. After lunch we will head to the lagoon for our first open water experience, and practice sighting.

Tuesday Swim AM: 50m pool (1 hour) | Swim PM: Local shallow bay sea swim

After breakfast we will make our way to the pool for a swim session. This is a great opportunity to reinforce all the work you have done and to work on the efficiency of your stroke. After lunch we will relax and then later on in the afternoon the guides will take you to a local beach for a swim in the safe swim zone. During this group swim you will be under constant supervision by the guides.

Wednesday Swim AM: Early morning swim – LAGOON swim | Late AM: 50m pool (1 hour)

This early swim before breakfast is to continue the work on your sea acclimatisation. After breakfast we will return to the pool for the last pool swim session. The swim guides will film your stroke again. On Wednesday afternoon you are free to enjoy one of the other 30 sporting activities La Santa has to offer, or simply kick back with a book and relax.

Thursday Swim AM: The Lagoon: (1 – 1.5km) | Swim PM: Pool session (1.5hrs)

This is your last full day of swimming with two great sessions planned. The morning swim is designed to allow you to push yourself and achieve a distance you haven’t yet managed. In the afternoon we will finish in the pool to ensure we can consolidate any technique niggles / questions you have before you return home. There will also be another opportunity to be videoed. Once back at the apartment there will be time to relax before dinner or to squeeze in some more La Santa sport time!

Friday Swim AM: Short pool swim before breakfast

As this is the last day, there will be a short pre-breakfast lagoon swim as you will need to pack and prepare for your airport transfers.

GETTING TO CLUB LA SANTA

fly to lanzarote

There are many flights from the UK, Ireland and Europe directly to Lanzarote. When you are looking to book, some airlines classify Lanzarote as Arrecife or ACE (for the international airport code). We recommend searching on www.skyscanner.co.uk to find the cheapest flights.

travel to club la santa

Once you have landed in Lanzarote, you can get a taxi from outside of the airport for the 30 minute (approx.) journey to Club La Santa.

SwimQuest Swimming Holidays

Open water swimming holidays

TECHNIQUE AT CLUB LA SANTA