Green Lake’s Evans Pool (7201 E Green Lake Dr N) has introduced a new offering. SKWIMis a new water sport that combines elements from water polo and Ultimate Frisbee. Players wear fins designed specifically for game play and throw a soft and flexible disk. Fins and other equipment are provided by the pool for use at the facility.
Evans Pool is the first pool in the City of Seattle Aquatics program to introduce SKWIM. “The possibilities for intergenerational programming and leagues is huge,” Donna Sammons, Evans Pool Aquatic Center Coordinator says. ”We are already thinking of possible ways to incorporate it into our programming.” SKWIM can be played by swimmers of all ages and ability levels, but children under the age of 6 must have a parent next to them, and children older than 6 need to be mobile in the water with the use of a life jacket. This video, filmed in Newport Beach, shows SKWIM players in action:
SKWIM is being officially launched at the pool next Saturday (June 25, 2011) afternoon. Three games will be played: 2:30-3:30, 3:30-4:30 and 4:30-5:30. There is a participation fee of $2. Only the first 24 players that register for each hour will be able to play. To guarantee a spot in a game, participants should sign up in advance either in person at Evans Pool or by calling (206) 684-4961. Saturday’s event is just the beginning of SKWIM games at Evans Pool, according to Dave Belanger, Assistant Aquatics Center Coordinator. There will be two Friday night games in July and two in August (dates to be determined). If there is a good response to the summer events, the pool will offer SKWIM every Friday night, 6:45-7:45 p.m., during the fall.
Update, July 11 — the Friday night SKWIM schedule is now available here.
