QuestionHello, Tom! I have recently discovered your excellent web site, and I was
really pleased to see that you (also!) have chosen to move to the beautiful
state of Washington.
One of my three children has been pressing me to start diving (age 10), and
we recently found a very comfortable beginning and intermediate "drop-in"
diving program on Queen Anne in Seattle. It is a far cry from the intensity of
club diving in other states, but it seems to serve a great variety of children
and adults who clearly enjoy the sport at the recreational level.
My question has to do with conditioning: If there is no trampoline, nor space
for any gymnastic component to the workout, how would you recommend
best for her to gain a better body/muscle-awareness? She would take
suggestions from you, I am sure!
Very sincerely,
Alix (Shepard) Collison
AnswerHi Alix -
It sure has been a long time since I saw you last! Must have been at Santa Clara when you were still diving. Anyway, I have been up here off and on since 1999. I currently live in Everett where I am taking care of the home of a relative. I coach high school diving for 5 different schools up here from August to the middle of February.
At one time I taught lessons at Queen Anne pool. I could just never get the pool time I wanted. I also had to run the lessons through the city and I really wanted to do it on my own. A guy named Dave Dawson coached there for quite a while but he moved to Indiana
The only place you can develop anyone in diving in Washington is at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Have you been there? It is one of the best indoor pools in the US and was the site of last weeks Men's NCAA Diving Champs that I was the meet director for.
My good friends Jim & Patti Southerland run the club team there called Pacific Northwest Diving. They have a tramp on deck at the pool as well as a dryland facility in their backyard with two tramps with ropes as well as a dry board.
If you want to contact them, my e-mail address is
[email protected]. Cell phone is 425-359-7143. I can give you all the info you need about their team. The is 25 miles south of downtown Seattle 2 miles west of Hiway 5.They live in Maple Valley.
In the meantime, I would enroll your daughter in a local gymnastic class that has a tramp. Besides joining my friends diving program, it will be the only way for her to develop a "diving body"
To find a gymnastic class go to www.usagwa.com.
Call or e-mail anytime and we can chat about the old days!
Tom Trapp, your old coach.
