Welcome to our swim offerings on Sunday mornings at Lake Tahi/Roto Kohatu Reserve, Sawyers Arms Road.

For the longest time we’ve been shouting from the rooftops about how important it is for adults to gain confidence in the open water. Not only is it the best and only way to get specific skills for your triathlon or open water swim, it’s the ONLY way to build essential water safety skills and get a good dose of health and wellness. You can gain a massive jump in your water safety skills simply by doing some practice in an open water environment. It’s the best way to enjoy a swim in a more natural environment, with the additional health and wellness boost you just don’t get from a swimming pool.

We realise there are many barriers to gaining open water experience, therefore we have decided to do our absolute best to ensure you have the opportunity to gain varied experience this summer with a comprehensive water skills program that covers the key outcomes for open water swimming:

SOCILAISATION and COMMUNITY – CONNECTION WITH NATURE – HEALTH AND WELLNESS – WATER CONFIDENCE – FITNESS AND PERFORMANCE.

Our Lake Tahi program for this summer runs November through February. Check the swim activity available and date carefully in the below table.

If you feel you would benefit from some 1:1 guidance before joining the Lake Tahi program we offer lessons in the pool at The RealSwim Centre, or at Waltham Pool. Plus we offer open water private 1:1 lessons at Lake Rua. If you would like an open water 1:1 please email: info@fitandabel.com. You should be able to swim 1000m continuously in a pool before heading into to the open water.

To learn more about each activity, scroll down.

Lake Swimming; 0630 – 0830
Dates; 03 Nov, 17 Nov, 22 Dec, 26 Jan (TBC), 16 Feb

If you are ready for the open water, we welcome you to join us for our lake swimming mornings this summer. We assess you on your first swim and can answer questions about the swim and the set course we use. Then swim for as long or as little as you like during the period 0630 – 0830, while meeting like-minded people in a wonderful open water environment.

These sessions aren’t competitive nor timed, they are for you to experience the water at your own pace in your own time. We setup, manage and provide safety for two courses on the lake; a 400m loop and a 900m loop, allowing you to choose your preferred distance, progress at your own pace and add variety to your training. It is compulsory to wear a tow float for the Lake Swimming sessions. 

You’ll need to build some fitness and skills in a pool first. The best measure is being able to comfortably swim 1000m in a pool and practice your sighting and floating/treading water. If you need help with these skills, please ask us; info@fitandabel.com.

Cost per session: $15

Swim Racing; Lake Tahi will be home to our RealSwim Race Series for the 2024/2025 summer. We will hold seven race scenarios to provide you an opportunity to gain race experience in an event group environment and gain a race time for your chosen distance; 3km, 2km or 1km. You can practice not only your swimming race plan, but also your race preparation plan (gear, timings, pre and post hydration and nutrition) to set you up well for your summer swimming events. We’ll be keeping it simple but you will have wave starts, be timed and results will be available.

Race Dates:
Sunday 10 November 2024
Sunday 24 November 2024
Sunday 08 December 2024
Sunday 12 January 2025
Sunday 19 January 2025
Sunday 02 February 2025 (TBC)
Sunday 09 February 2025

Race Start Time: 0645
Race Cut Off: 0815

Entry Fee: $30
On the morning registration is available, please bring $35 cash.

FULL EVENT DETAILS ARE ON OUR LAKE TAHI SWIM RACING PAGE

IMPORTANT DETAILS

• Last entry into the water for Lake Swimming is 0800, and last lap start is 0815. All swimmers must be out of the water by 0830.
• Swimmers must pre-register online or at the lake.
• When booking online for Lake Swimming purchase the “Lake Swimming 1 Swim Pass” or “Lake Swimming 2 Swim Pass”, then register for the session/s you want to attend. Once purchased, the swim pass is valid for the 2024/2025 season only.
• When you arrive on the day, before entering the water, you must sign in with a staff member, and then on exiting the water you must sign out.
• There are some Sundays throughout summer that Lake Tahi activities aren’t operating due to other events, please check the dates above carefully.
• There will be no lake sessions over the Christmas/New Year period
• Minimum ability for Lake Fitness swimming is 1000m continuous in the pool. This is to ensure you feel comfortable whilst in the open water. If you are not yet at this level we recommend attending our Waltham Pool coached groups or having a private lesson with Dan or Chloe. We can support your development and help you build to a capable open water level.
• Parking is available next to the lake. The access gate will be open from 0615. Access is off Sawyers Arms Road, please look for the entranceway you see in the photo, it is past the main stone entrance into the reserve.

CONDITIONS OF SWIMMING

• The Lake is only open for swimming at certain times, when FitandAbel are present and running one of the above activities. Please be aware of these times and ensure you adhere to them. Swimming outside of the set times jeopardises the access of all open water swimmers to the Lake.
• You must either register and pay online, or register and pay on the day, before getting in the water.
• Swimming routes and procedures must be adhered to at all times please
• All swimmers must wear a bright cap: Orange, Pink, Red or Yellow
• The Lake Swimming long course is approximately 900m in length for one lap, and the short course is approximately 400m in length for one lap.
• The Lake Swimming route is anti-clockwise, it runs directly between the four Fit&Abel/RealSwim buoys.
• Minimum age for Lake Swimming is 13 years on the day. Please contact us (info@fitandabel.com) if you have a younger child who is keen to swim.
• All other buoys are permanent fixtures in the lake and should be used as secondary navigation aids only.
• All swimmers must sign out of the water at the completion of their swim.
• Nervous swimmers/first-timers are encouraged to speak with staff before their swim.
• Swim Safety is provided. It is an additional safety layer but not a guarantee of your safety.
• You should be fit and comfortable before undertaking these swim activities at the lake. We also encourage you to swim with a buddy, any time you swim in the open water. If you require assistance roll onto your back and raise one arm in the air. Stay calm.
• Staff instructions should be obeyed at all times for your safety and for the safety of other swimmers.

For any inquiries about our Lake Tahi swimming activities, please email: info@fitandabel.com

A big thank you to the Canterbury Jet Sport Club and the ECAN Harbour Office for enabling this fantastic sharing of open water space.