Looking for help with Oregon dive team

Question
Mr. Trapp,
My name is Caleb, and I recently moved to Estacada Oregon.  Before, I had lived in Texas and had been taking diving lessons and had about to be accepted onto the team... until my dad lost his job.  He found one though - except it was in Oregon!  I began looking for teams in the area (one that would really work with me because I'm still fairly new, and I got off to a late start at the age of 14 - but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to become a great diver) and I found one in Tualatin, and then I also found one in Troutdale.  The Tualatin club team had an actual website, but I can't find any contact info or anything for the group in Troutdale (I'm not even sure if it is a registered club with USA Diving).  PLEASE HELP!!!

Answer
Hi Caleb -

The only real place to dive in the state of Oregon is at the Tualatin Hills Dive Club in Beaverton. The reason is because there are very few pools in this state with deep water and there is no high school diving. If you really want to dive, this is where you will end up going.

The person you want to contact in Troutdale is Van Austin. He has been coaching diving since the 1960's. Van is a very knowledgeable coach and has had many national champions in the past. He was also the 2000 USA Olympic Team's Manager. He is associated with the Tualatin Hills team and travels out there a few days per week to help coach. He has tried to use pools in the Troutdale area but they are hard to obtain and only have one meters. I am sure that he could be a way for you to get out to Beaverton when he travels out there. His email address is:

[email protected].

When you contact him, tell him that I gave you his contact info. I have known Van for many years and I am sure he can send you in the right direction.

You and your parents will just have to get used to traveling for practices in order to stay involved in the sport. Tualatin Hills has a great team that I once coached from 2000 to 2002.You will do great there and I am sure you will enjoy being a part of their team.This is the time of year that they are on a break but they will start up again sometime in September.

Good luck and keep diving.