Swim participants are required to purchase their own equipment for the purpose of having age and developmentally appropriate training equipment and maximize opportunities to practice. The list below is meant to provide direction to participants and families for consideration by program division or refer to the chart link below:

Equipment Chart by program

Rapids Swim Academy:  7-11 year olds only:

  • Junior Kickboard (unless over the age of 12 may purchase a youth or adult size)

  • Junior Pullbuoy (unless over the age of 12 may purchase a youth or adult size)

  • Swim Training Goggles (anti-fog, suction or hard silicone cup)

  • Swim Training Fins (short fins not for scuba or recreational - recommended Speedo, TYR or Arena)

  • Optional: Mesh Bag (large enough to keep all wet equipment in)

 

Competive Division:  As above plus +

  • Swim Jammers (boys), Plain non-decorative one-piece swimsuit (girls) 

  • Swim Training Paddles (Finis Agility, **purchase X-Small or Small size only training - look for 1 dot only!)

  • Age Group only - Swim Training Snorkel (Finis, Speedo, Arena, Aqua Sphere)

  • Optional: Swim Training Backpack and mesh bag

  • Optional: Racing Suit

​

Masters:

  • Adult size kickboard

  • Adult size pullbuoy

  • Swim Training Goggles (anti-fog, suction or hard silicone cup)

  • Swim Training Fins (short fins not for scuba or recreational - recommended Speedo, TYR or Arena)

  • Optional: Swim Training Paddles (Finis Agility, Small size training non-recreational)

  • Optional: Swim Training Snorkel (Finis, Speedo, Arena, Aqua Sphere)

  • Optional: Mesh Bag (large enough to keep all wet equipment in)

  • Optional: Swim Training Backpack 

 

We also encourage to purchase quality swim training swimsuits that will last much longer in chlorine.  Look for PBT or best is 100% polyester swim training suits.  Avoid swimsuits with spandex content.    

Swim goggles

Swim googles are beneficial to participants and enables them to see underwater and gain a personal level of comfort. Snorkel masks are also acceptable, however it is recommend for participant at one point to transition into swim goggles so they are not reliant on the mask to prevent water from going into their nose.

Wetsuits

Wetsuits are benefical in open water settings where environmental factors impact how cold the swimmer feels: including but not limited to water temperature, air temperature, wind speed, and weather conditions (i.e. rain). Wetsuits are strongly recommend when the water tempearture is below 20 degrees Celsius. For the purposes of the summer program, the wetsuit can be a basic wetsuit that can be purchased at any sport store and does not need to be a "triathlon" wetsuit.

Kickboards

Kickboards are used to help swimmers to work on their kicking drills. The equipment and skills are transferrable into pool settings.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)

Personal Flotation Devices are a good alternative to kickboards, and may be used for surface support. The key componments of a Personal Floatation Device:

  • It is approved by Transport Canada (or equivalent governing agencies in other countries), and meets certain specifications
  • It is mostly made of a foam-based material, it supports a certain weight class (i.e. 30 to 60 lbs)

Note: Air-based inflatables are not a good substitute as there is a chance the item can be punctured during use. Personal Flotation Devices can be purchased at any sport or boating store.

Foam-based Noodles

Foam-based noodles are a good alternative to kickboards, and may be used for surpose support. The thicker the foam-based noodle, the more support it will provide. The unique shape of the noodle allows for various swim applications.

Training Fins

Training fins are beneficial to build strength in kicking for freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly stroke. Training fins are also beneficial as a tool to help participants connect with the water with certain types of kicks. Training fins are typically short in nature (i.e. tip of the fin is close to the participant's toes). Diving fins are not appropriate as the length of the fin is too long and does not allow increasing the frequency of the kick.