Vikings Swim Club
Training for Competition
Vikings Competitive Squads
Transitioning from the Kings Swim Programme to the London squad under Olympic Coach Todd Mason presents swimmers with an unparalleled opportunity. Todd’s extensive experience and expertise, with over 40 years of experience, has consistently propelled swimmers from the Kings Swim School to the highest levels of competition, both nationally and internationally.
In 2023 Vikings had swimmers attend the Youth Commonwealth Games and the World Junior Championships along with several state championships in Australia. We were also proud to see Vikings Swim Club member Gaby Smith represent New Zealand in the 2024 Paralympics.
At Vikings, our ethos emphasises more than just winning - we strive to cultivate well-rounded individuals within a close-knit swim community.
Here, swimmers build long lasting friendships whilst embracing the values of strength, camaraderie, competitiveness, and passion.
Vikings Programme
The Vikings comprehensive training programmes for our London to LA Squads encompass various aspects of technique and skills to ensure their readiness for competitive high performance swimmers.
Swimmers begin with
warm-up routines both on land and in the water, and are primed to optimise their performance. Dedicated sessions then focus on refining swim technique, honing each stroke to maximise efficiency and speed in the water.
Endurance training forms a
crucial component
of the programme, building the physical and mental resilience necessary to sustain prolonged efforts during the swim journey.
Swimmers are provided with opportunities to engage in various
swim competitions at home, away or internationally, allowing them to apply their skills in a competitive environment and fine-tune their race strategies. Through this holistic approach, participants are equipped with the skills and conditioning required to excel in the London to LA challenge.
London Squad
Approx 9+ years
Swimmers start in the London Squad. This squad is a non-competitive & competitive swimming group – swimmers will be competing in "Have a Go" races and at local meets.
If you're in Level 9 at Kings Swim School, you're nearly ready for the next step.
Come for a one week FREE trial and see if Vikings
is the right fit for you.
Session Times:
Monday:
4.30pm – 5.30pm
Wednesday: 4.30pm – 5.30pm
Friday: 5.00pm – 6.00pm
Please note times can be subject to change.Some swimmers start with one or two training sessions per week when they first join the squad. You can choose how many sessions your child attends—no pressure.
When you officially join Vikings Swim Club, you will receive
one FREE Vikings swim cap to start your club swimming journey.
London Squad Gear:
Please see
London Squad gear requirements below.
To arrange a
FREE trial session, simply email us at
hello@vikingsswimclub.co.nz, and we’ll be happy to set it up.
Tokyo & LA Squads
13+ years
Tokyo Squad
Athletes swimming at regional champs, Division II and National Age Group level.
x 6 trainings per week
Monday - Saturday
Land and pool sessions
Tokyo Squad Gear:
Please see Tokyo Squad gear requirements below.
LA Squad
Athletes competing at NZ Opens, National Age Groups and NZ Short Course Champs.
x 7 trainings per week
Monday - Saturday
Land and pool sessions
LA Squad Gear:
Please see LA Squad gear requirements below.
Training Camps &
Summer Training
At Vikings we are not in the Kings pool all year round - we also take the squads outdoors for fitness training and swim camps away from home.
In January 2025 Vikings summer training camp was held in Timaru giving everyone a great chance to bond as a team, work out on Caroline Bay beach and train in the pool.
Fees & Uniform
Squad Fees
London Squad: $160 per month
Tokyo Squad: $200 per month
Paris Squad: $230 per month
Non - Competitive Annual Membership Fee - $120
This fee is paid to Vikings Swim Club for Vikings Swim Club membership.
Annual fees run from July to July. Pro-rata options are available—for example, if you join in November, your fee will be adjusted to cover the period until July of the following year. Most London Squad swimmers come in as non-competitive and move over to competitive when they are ready.
London Squad Non-Competitive Fee:
$160 per month + Annual Membership fee
London Squad Competitive Fee:
$160 per month +
Competitive Annual Membership fee
or
Competitive Annual Membership Fee - $258
(Fees split between -SwimmingNZ, Swim Canterbury West Coast and Vikings Swim Club - fee paid direct to Swimming New Zealand)
Annual Fee from: July to July (no pro-rata option).
Uniform order: All swimmers representing Vikings Swim Club will require a uniform - please contact our
Uniform Co-ordinator, Anj Hawkins by email -
unifrom@vikingsswimclub.co.nz for the gear list and to order.
Training Gear Requirements
London Squad: Mesh Bag, long fins, pull buoy,
kickboard.
Tokyo Squad:
Mesh Bag, long & short fins, pull buoy,
kickboard, hand paddles, snorkel (optional).
LA Squad: Mesh Bag, long & short fins, pull buoy,
kickboard, hand paddles, snorkel (optional).
Hand Paddles:
These paddles should be a few centimetres larger than hand.
Gear Bags:
These bags and items should all be named and can be kept at Kings Swim School, hooked onto the gear bag with a stainless steel carabiner/snap hook.
Helpful Equipment websites:
Teamline: www.teamline.co.nz
Aqualine: www.aqualineswim.co.nz
Zoggs: www.zoggs.com
Funkita: www.funkita.co.nz
T3 Swim: www.swimt3.co.nz
Swimhub: www.swimhub.nz
Arena: www.arenasport.com
Vikings Swim Club Uniforms
When you join Vikings, you become part of the Kings/Vikings family. It’s more than just swimming—it truly becomes your swimming family. With that sense of belonging, everyone wears their uniform with pride.
We encourage swimmers to wear their uniform to and from lessons and at all swimming meets.
The Vikings range includes t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, and tracksuits to suit all weather conditions, ensuring you're comfortable while training or representing the Club at lessons and meets.