Welcome to Swim Smart!

Thanks for visiting our site. I've been coaching swimming in Vancouver for the last 10 years, helping 1000s of clients become more comfortable in the water. I grew up in Scotland very close to the Loch Ness monster. A competitive swimmer through my teenage years, breaststroke and butterfly were my best strokes. I rekindled my love of competitive swimming in 2016, created a swim team, won medals at Nationals and qualified for Worlds in Korea and am close to swimming faster as an adult than I ever did as a teenager. Whether you want to swim for fun, complete your first triathlon, or race for the podium we can help you achieve your goals.  Get in touch and learn to Swim Smart!

 For most of you, Coach Oscar needs no introduction! Oscar was one of my first coaching clients back in 2012 and now he is one of the most experienced open water coaches around, with 7+ years of coaching experience and 20+ triathlon and open water swim races under his belt. Don’t be fooled by that mean face and death stare though, Oscar is notoriously laid back and calm under pressure. Fun fact: Oscar despises cold water, but was the first coach to get in the ocean this year! Oscar will be coaching on Monday evenings this summer.

 Joseph has been a swim client for many years, initially working his way up through the technique courses and now consistently training with the masters group (and even doing some masters racing now and then). Currently training for his first Ironman, he has a wealth of triathlon training and racing experience, having completed 6 half-irons and 15+ sprint and olympic events. Having previously coached and mentored Team In Training first-time triathletes and marathoners, this summer Joseph is returning for his second coaching season, helping Stewart on Thursday evenings. Fun fact: an avid strongman, Joseph can deadlift a baby Orca! 

Lishan initially joined five years ago to prepare for his first Ironman and has been involved at every tier of swim classes since. Currently training for his third Ironman, Lishan has completed 15+ triathlons of all distances, is the age-group Provincial Champion in both Olympic and Half-Iron distance triathlons, as well as 2020 Canadian Masters Swim Champion in the 200m Breaststroke! As a strength & conditioning coach, massage therapist, and one of the best athletes around Lishan brings valuable experience to our coaching team and will be working with Stewart on Tuesday evening's this summer. Fun fact - Lishan can out run the wind!

Hannah is a former collegiate swimmer specializing in distance freestyle and butterfly. She has a strong coaching background working with swim teams 

and triathletes. For the past 5 years Hannah has been coaching open water swimming, surfing and bodysurfing in Costa Rica and Massachusetts, 

primarily working with triathletes who have a fear of the open water, 

guiding them through relaxation drills and technique work to develop 

their confidence. Welcome to Vancouver!

 Kira has been coaching with Stewart for the past four seasons. 

Having completed many triathlons in the past, including three Ironmans 

(Lake Placid, Florida, Hawaii), Kira changed her focus to swimming and social fun competitions. She completed the Bay Challenge in 2015 - an 11 km swim from West Vancouver to Kits Beach - and has participated in many VOWSA swims and competitions. Keen to bring athletes together with fun social 

events, the popular Mini Triathlon series was a Kira idea!