Social

Our team is very socially active! We work hard to foster a sense of community and camaraderie on the team by organizing frequent opportunities for members to interact outside of the pool. Some of the events that we put together include:

• Team social events including:

  • Fundraisers

  • Happy Hours at local LGBT+ Bars

  • Monthly Potlucks

  • Team Dinners

• Community volunteering events (including Seattle Pride)

All are welcome at these events, so feel free to bring your significant other or friends! Upcoming events are announced in our weekly newsletter, which you can sign up for here.

Fitness

With a terrific set of coaches, Orca practices promise to challenge you as much as you want to be challenged. The team generally works out for 1.25 hours six times per week (see practice schedule). You can swim as many or as few practices as you would like and swim in a lane that best matches your speed and ability. We have lanes that vary in ability from beginners to advanced/competitive swimmers. Each practice will focus on improving stroke technique and building strength, endurance, and aerobic conditioning.

Competition

While we enjoy fitness and socializing, we also take competition seriously! Generally, we train for about 2 to 4 “focus” swim meets each year. Some members swim in more meets and others less or not at all. The choice is yours! However, we encourage all swimmers to swim in at least one meet because they are fun, provide team-building experiences, travel opportunities, and help you realize the payoff for all the training you’ve done! As a member team of IGLA, we also travel to the the Gay Games, which take place every four years, and the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championships, which take place every year excluding Gay Games years. Check our weekly newsletter for information about upcoming swim meets.