ETA Coach Open Water Swims:
YMCA of the Pines
1303 Stokes Rd, Medford, NJ 08055
Most Sat/Sun mornings and Wed evenings, late Apr - early Sep
www.frenchcreekracing.com
For full calendar, frenchcreekracing.pike13.com/schedule ETA Coach Open Water Swims: YMCA of the Pines https://vimeo.com/83689722
Join ETA Coach LLC in the tranquil setting of YMCA of the Pines in Medford Lakes, NJ to improve your open water swimming skills in 2025. Athletes can work on their open water swim stroke, sighting, and transitions in preparation for the upcoming race season. There is no other venue in NJ, PA, or DE that provides an environment which includes a marked swim course, open water free of motorized boats, and endless country roads for biking and running. You do not need to be a client of ETA Coach or any other organization to swim in the lake. We welcome all clubs and other coaching services. You are not required to be a member of YMCA of the Pines to swim in the lake; we are self-insured.
2025 ETA Coach Open Water Swim Dates and Times
Saturday 5/24: 7-11 AM
Sunday 5/31: 7-11 AM
Sunday 6/1: 7-11 AM
Saturday 6/7: 630-11 AM
Sunday 6/8: 630-11 AM
Saturday 6/14: 630-11 AM
Sunday 6/15: 630-11 AM
Saturday 6/21: 630-11 AM
Sunday 6/22: 630-11 AM
Saturday 6/28: 630-11 AM
Sunday 6/29: 630-11 AM
Saturday 7/5: 630-11 AM
Sunday 7/6: 630-11 AM
Saturday 7/12: 630-11 AM (CANCELLED)
Sunday 7/13: 630-11 AM
Saturday 7/19 630-11 AM
NO SUNDAY JULY 20TH SWIM
Saturday 7/26: 630-11 AM
Sunday 7/27: 630-11 AM
Saturday 8/2: 630-11 AM
Sunday 8/3: 630-11 AM
Saturday 8/9: 630-11 AM
Sunday 8/10: 630-11 AM
Saturday 8/16: 630-11 AM
Sunday 8/17: 630-11 AM
Saturday 8/23: 630-11 AM
Sunday 8/24: 630-11 AM
Saturday 8/30: 630-11 AM
Sunday 8/31: 630-11 AM
Payment Methods:
Check, Pass Purchased Online, Debit or Credit Card on site, or Venmo on site. Please also consider tipping our staff who go above and beyond to keep you safe. What to bring to lake:
Photo ID
USAT Card (Our events are run as USAT Events for insurance purposes, 1 day USAT Memberships are available at the lake for non USAT Members)
Pass purchased online (day passes only, we keep a list of season and 10 & 5 packs)
Bright colored swim cap
Open Water Swim Information and Rules
-Swimming outside of posted date swim times (see below) is considered trespassing and strictly prohibited.
-Wet suits regulations follow USAT Rules with regards to water temperature
-Water temperature will be posted upon the opening of each swim. Many of us work other jobs and so we cannot post it earlier such as a race. When in doubt, bring your wetsuit.
-YMCA Of the Pines graciously rents to us. Let's all do our part to respect their property and other groups on site.
-There are lifeguards on duty in the water at all times. Please be sure to tip our lifeguards if you feel they do exceptional work.
-For beginners: You may swim close to the docks to become more comfortable in the open water swim setting. It is highly recommended that beginners take one of our open water swim clinics.
-There are no motorized boats on the lake, but there may be residents canoeing from time to time. If you see a boat on the water, please be vigilant and yield when applicable. Chances are, you will see them before they see you. Also our guards will guide them so they do not cross into your path
-If you are riding your bike or running post swim, please drive to the local PJ Whelihan's or one of the nearby High Schools to leave your car. Unfortunately, this is one of YMCA of the Pines firm rules.
-The lake has race style buoys. We do our best to keep the course marked each week at the same distance, but if the buoys move overnight, we may not be able to reset them immediately. PARKING:
Approximately 1/8 of a mile after you enter the Camp, you can start parking your cars perpendicularly to the left and in the small parking areas by the lake Cherokee Beach entrance . Please be mindful that we have many other swimmers parking. LOCATION:
YMCA of the Pines - 1303 Stokes Road, Medford, NJ 08055
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
The lake will be closed if threatening weather is in the vicinity. An announcement will be posted on our page and an email will be sent out. SWIM CLINICS:
You DO NOT have to sign up for the Open Water Swims. Swimmers can pay for a 1- day pass on arrival or sign up for a pass online as mentioned above. Open Water Swimmers can arrive at any time and swim for as long as they want during the 3-5 hour window when we have the lake reserved. Pricing is discussed above. You DO have to sign up for the Open Water Swim Clinics. The Open Water Swim Clinics and the Open Water Swims will be occurring simultaneously. You don't have to take the swim clinics to do the open water swim, and the swim clinics will not interfere with the open water swim. All swim clinic information is below. ETA Coach Open Water Swim Clinics
The ETA Coach Open Water Swim Clinics are designed to help beginner to advanced swimmers become more comfortable in the open water. We do this by practicing skills that will help each swimmer offset anxiety and navigate swim courses more effectively, resulting in safer and faster open water swimming! Skills that will be demonstrated and taught include:
• Dealing with anxiety
• Triathlon swim starts
• Sighting techniques
• Swimming in a straight line
• Breathing techniques
• Swimming with a crowd
• Drafting techniques
• Swimming around buoys effectively
• Triathlon swim exits
• Swimming in a wetsuit
• Fast wetsuit removal
Each swim clinic will last 70-90min.
