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The Mountain Recreation Rapids Swim Team is a recreational youth swim team that focuses on technique, teamwork and fun! We have our Age Group One (5–11 years old) and White-Water Rapids Group (11-18 years old) practicing year round.

How to Register:

  • All incoming swimmers must complete a swim team placement test with either a swim coach or aquatics admin. Once the placement test is complete, swimmers will receive a notification within 24 hours with special permission to register for the team. Swim team placement tests are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 5pm-7pm.
  • Swimmers who have already completed a placement test do not need to complete a placement test again. Once a current swimmer is ready to move up to a higher level, their coach will notify the aquatics supervisor and the parent, and their account will be adjusted so that they can register.

HELPFUL LINKS

Learn to Swim  |  Youth Scholarships

2025 Rapids Swim Team Sessions
Session LocationSession DatesRegistration
OneGypsum Rec Center PoolJan 8-31Dec 15/Jan 7
TwoGypsum Rec Center PoolFeb 4-27Jan 15-Feb 3
ThreeGypsum Rec Center PoolMar 4-27Feb 10-Mar 3
FourGypsum Rec Center PoolMay 6-22Apr 14-May 5
FiveEagle PoolJun 9-27Apr 14-May 5
SixEagle PoolJul 7-24Apr 14-May 5
SevenEagle PoolAug 4-8Apr 14-May 5
EightGypsum Rec Center PoolSep 2-25Aug 11-Sep 8
NineGypsum Rec Center PoolOct 7-30Sep 15-Oct 6
TenGypsum Rec Center PoolNov 4-20Oct 13-Nov 3
ElevenGypsum Rec Center PoolDec 2-18Nov 10-Dec 1

Important Info

  • Rapids Swim Levels
    1. Stroke Development
      This group is a modified American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 4 (minus diving due to pool depth) where swimmers learn the foundations of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and introduce butterfly.
    2. Stroke Refinement
      This group is a modified American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim Level 5 (minus diving due to pool depth) where swimmers refine skills of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and put the butterfly stroke together.
    3. Wavemakers
      In this group, swimmers learn technical rules of each stroke, are introduced to flip turns, and really strengthen their kick and stroke efficiency.
    4. Rapids Swim Team
      In this group, swimmers continue to learn about the rules of each stroke, develop endurance (swimming between 300-1200 yards, and refine flip turns
    5. White Water Swim Team
      The final group of team continues to develop endurance by swimming one mile per practice, improves competitive stroke technique, completes timed sets and test sets.
  • Placement Tests

    To qualify for any group, a swimmer will need prior approval from designated Mountain Rec Aquatic Staff (swim coaches and aquatic administrative staff), or complete placement test with designated Mountain Rec Aquatic Staff. This new procedure is to ensure quality assurance and to be as efficient as possible with time and space.

    Placement Test requirements for each group are as follows:

    1. Stroke Development
      a. Successful completion of Learn-to-Swim Level 3 OR
      b. Jump into deep water from the side, recover to the surface, maintain a position by treading or floating for 1 minute, rotate one full turn, level off, swim front crawl and/or elementary backstroke for 25 yards, then exit the water.
    2. Stroke Refinement
      a. Successfully complete Stroke Development OR
      b. Swim 50 yards: front crawl for 25 yards then swim elementary backstroke for 25 yards. Swim 30 yards: 15 yards breaststroke breaststroke followed by 15 yards back crawl. Swim streamline underwater for 5 yards.
    3. Wavemakers
      a. Successfully pass Stroke Refinement OR
      b. Kick one 25 of freestyle, one 25 of backstroke, one 25 of breaststroke, and one 25 of dolphin kick, streamline 5 yards, and swim 100 choice stroke (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly).
    4. Rapids Swim Team
      a. Successfully pass Wavemakers Swim Team OR
      b. Continuous swim test: tread water for 30 seconds followed by seconds of front float followed by 5 seconds of back float, followed by continuous swim. Swim 15 yards of each stroke (full stroke: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly).
    5. White Water Swim Team
      a. Successfully pass Rapid Swim Team OR
      b. Swim 100 freestyle with flip turns. Swim 100 Individual Medley. Kick 100 choice. Pull 100 choice.

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