One of the ‘veterans’ of the Calgary GLBTQ community, Different Strokes Swim Club recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary in July of 2005, and continues to seek new challenges for its members.
With a membership of over fifty individuals, and averaging between twenty and twenty-eight showing up for its twice-weekly practices, the club is healthy and involved.
“One of the great things about the club is that it is so social and friendly,” says Rob Kremer, a member.
Most people find out about the swim club through a friend and then accompany that friend to a practice, but for those learning about the club through other sources such as GLCSA or ads in local queer media, showing up can be intimidating.
“Absolutely,” says Kremer, “Getting past the security at the pool then walking into a room full of people in Speedos™, well…not a lot of people feel comfortable doing that. It’s much easier to meet up beforehand for a coffee, or arrange to meet them in the foyer of the YWCA, so that they’re not walking into a room full of strangers.”
There are also a few women involved with the club and it is actively working to improve the gender balance.
“We’re open to anyone who wants to swim. We even have had straight folk join us and one of our coaches is straight, which is interesting for a gay and lesbian swim club,” says Kremer, “but everyone gets along and the coach handles any teasing pretty well.”
The swim club is facing a full schedule over the next few months. On March 11, Different Strokes is holding their Mardi Gras Dance. This year’s theme is “Rio Carnival.”
“All our dances have a Mardi Gras theme,” Kremer says, “It just seems to fit well with a gay swim club – you know, not many clothes,” he laughs. Attendees are encouraged to show up in theme; headdresses, masks, body paint and glitter, outrageous Mardi Gras-style costuming and, of course, the beads.
“We will have Mardi Gras masks and beads for sale, at cost, on site, so everyone can get into the spirit,” Kremer says. “People trade beads all night long, just like they do down in New Orleans…well, almost like they do down in New Orleans…”
The dance will be at Victoria Park Community Hall (1302 – 6 St. SE), for which Different Strokes will be renting both sides.
“The dance itself is going to be in the main hall - the one everyone is familiar with. We will also be renting the south hall as well, as sort of a quiet area. There will still be music and a party atmosphere, just not as noisy and frenetic as the main hall,” says Kremer.
In April, Different Strokes is going to be involved for the first time with Apollo’s Western Cup XXV. In addition, with the new OUTGames (sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian International Sports Association) happening in Montreal in a few months, members of Different Strokes are training to compete.
“We have 16 members already committed to swimming at the OUTGames. When we went to the Gay Games in Sydney, we had twelve members go,” says Kremer. Different Strokes members have always medaled at the Gay Games and Kremer expects more of the same at OUTGames.
“Of course, the whole philosophy of [attending] both sets of Games is not competition in the usual sense. It’s about personal best, and all levels of athletes are welcome to compete,” says Kremer, “Still…it’s nice to have a few medals brought home.”
The group’s paid coach is really pushing the cardio aspect and getting the swimmers ready for the Individual Medley (IM) – fifty metres each of the butterfly stroke, backstroke, breaststroke, and crawl.
As with the club itself, those going to Montreal need not be star athletes.
“We have what we call four lanes…four levels of ability,” says Kremer, “Lane One is for beginners and those learning to swim, going all the way up to Lane Four.”
“I started off in Lane One when I first joined about four or five years ago, now I’m all the way up to Lane Three. Mind you, there are times when I slip back to Two or One to perfect a particular technique, or because I’ve had a lousy day and am not just up to swimming at a Level Three,” laughs Kremer.
Swimming is one of the most popular sports in GLBTQ sporting circles. Asked if that had anything to do with being surrounded by toned bodies in Speedos™, Kremer laughs.
“Yeah, that’s probably one of the main reasons…but it’s also a sport where you are competing against yourself, not others, and an individual can focus on skill, cardio workouts, and their concentration,” Kremer points out, adding, “When I’ve had a particularly crummy day, the concentration involved in swimming well just obliterates that stress. After a good swim, I feel great and the stress is just not there.”
Swimming combines the emphasis on individual challenge with the camaraderie of team sports.
“Different Strokes does involve itself in the various swim meets around Alberta, our members often will get involved with those,” Kremer says. “Different Strokes is a member of Swim Alberta (the provincial registering body) and so we’ve had members swim at the Alberta Open.”
The Edmonton group, Making Waves, holds a swim meet every Family Day weekend that is sanctioned by Swim Alberta, and Different Strokes attends.
“Their meet has lots of 25 metre sprints, so it’s very accessible,” Kremer notes.
The club swims at the YWCA on 5th Avenue SE every Wednesday at 7pm, and on Sundays at 6pm. The first visit is free and subsequent visits are $5, although members can choose to pay in six month or annual sets. A $20 membership with Swim Alberta is also required.
Different Strokes
www.differentstrokescalgary.org
Mardi Gras Dance – March 11th
Victoria Park Community Hall (1302 – 6th Street SE)
Weekly Swim Meets – Wed. at 7pm, Sun. at 6pm
At the YWCA on 5th Avenue SE
