The swimming lanes at the Fernie Aquatic Centre have been decked out with six all-new starter blocks.
The new blocks were installed on Monday (November 8), and were already being put to use straight after.
“This means that we now have modern, up to date starter blocks that competitive teams are more used to working with,” said Jillian Rutherford of the Elk Valley Dolphins Swim Club (EVDSC).
The EVDSC spearheaded the effort to get the new blocks installed, replacing older blocks which were no longer up to Swim Canada regulations.
Through club fundraising and funding allocated through the Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) by the City of Fernie, the $40,000 upgrade now means the eager swimmers of Fernie and beyond have professional-grade equipment to work with.
“They’re constructed to Swim Canada regulations,” said Rutherford. “So there wont be any question about qualifying times.”
The club thanked the City of Fernie staff for installing the blocks almost immediately after they arrived.
Rutherford said that the club would be better able to attract older, as well as more competitive swimmers to swim meets in the future now that the Aquatic Centre had more modern infrastructure.
The city had supported allocating $30,000 from the RMI funds towards the project as the club has proven itself capable of drawing in swimmers and their families from around the region to ‘swim meets’ hosted by the club in Fernie.
READ MORE: Fernie Aquatic Centre to get new starting blocks
scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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