By: Jon Davidson
Edited by: Peter Milobar
It’s winter, you say. “Why should I know how to swim? It’s not like I’m going near any water.” Your point is valid. But you know what? Learning how to swim is a very important skill and I’m here to tell you exactly WHY you should learn how. First, a little bit of information- in the last year there have been 49 fatal drownings in BC, with the last one being September 16th. That’s a large number of drownings, and it’s scary that this number is actually BELOW average for the province this year.
If he can do it…
Now—why is the present a good time to learn how to swim? Swimming isn’t a skill that you can learn overnight. I’ve been swimming since I was a little kid and still I’m not the greatest at it, but I can save myself and others in the water. If you want to learn, now’s the best time to sign up for lessons and swim lengths. Not only is swimming great for saving your life, it’s also great exercise when you know how to. If you start now, you’re going to be able to show off to all your friends next summer—I guarantee it.
Save lives while looking good
The other reason why now is the best time to learn? Well, it’s cheap! For $12, you can get six lessons at the UBC Aquatic Centre, versus the $50 or so your parents would’ve paid while you were kid. If you already know how to swim, did you also know that your student card give you access to the pool? Well, you do now! UBC isn’t just one of the best places to get an education, but it’s also a great place to learn how to swim. The pool is spacious and the instructors are great—you’ll have a wonderful time and be ready to show off next summer. Maybe you’re looking for something a little bit more short-term… well, if you don’t know, UBC’s Storm the Wall (a mini-triathlon) has a swimming component to it, so the more the better! But remember, swimming isn’t just about lengths or distances or fitness or anything like that, it’s also about saving your life. You never know when you might need to swim, and when you do need to swim, it’s always better to know how to.
Have fun swimming!!
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