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Competitive

Competitive

Polar Bears

6 times per week

263.82 / month

3,165.88 / session

Payment Schedule

1,055.29	due	2027-02-01
1,055.29	due	2027-04-01

Fees and discounts

Starting: September 8, 2026
Ending: July 16, 2027
Closed

Competitive : Polar Bears

Polar Bears

Appropriate Athlete Development: Train to Train / Train to Compete
Age Range: 11–14
Roster Group: Competitive

The Polar Bears group is tailored for young athletes in the Train to Train stage of the Appropriate Athlete Development Model, focused on technical refinement, physical conditioning, and preparing for higher-level competition. This group supports swimmers aiming to qualify for North & Interior Divisional, BC provincial, and even age group national meets.

Swimmers in this group are developing the ability to change speeds while maintaining stroke efficiency, show more effective underwater work off starts and turns, and maintain proper technique even under increased training demands. They are also starting to build stroke-specific strength and power.

Typical time standards achieved at sanctioned meets include:

100m Freestyle ≤ 1:10
200m Freestyle ≤ 2:25
400m Freestyle ≤ 5:10
100m Backstroke ≤ 1:25
100m Breaststroke ≤ 1:35
100m Butterfly ≤ 1:30
200m IM ≤ 2:50
400m IM ≤ 6:00

Target training sets include:

4 x 400 IM @ 7:30
12 x 100 Kick @ 2:05
24 x 100 Freestyle @ 1:35

In addition to their physical development, Polar Bears swimmers begin to explore the mental and analytical side of performance. With coach support, they learn to:

Understand the difference between aerobic and anaerobic energy systems
Use stroke rate (SR) and distance per stroke (DPS) to control speed
Measure heart rate to guide training intensity
Understand basic sports nutrition for training and competition
Follow detailed race plans and know training paces that align with performance goals
Build self-awareness and practice effective communication with coaches

The Polar Bears group sets the stage for advanced training by combining strong technical focus, tactical understanding, and foundational leadership. This group bridges the gap between skill development and competitive excellence.

Kodiaks

8 times per week

280.84 / month

3,370.13 / session

Payment Schedule

1,123.38	due	2027-02-01
1,123.38	due	2027-04-01

Fees and discounts

Starting: September 8, 2026
Ending: July 16, 2027
Closed

Competitive : Kodiaks

Kodiaks

Appropriate Athlete Development: Train to Train / Train to Compete
Age Range: 13–19
Roster Group: Competitive

The Kodiaks group is designed for swimmers in the Train to Train stage of the Appropriate Athlete Development Model. Athletes in this group are committed to competitive swimming and are working toward qualifying and excelling at North & Interior Divisional Championships, as well as BC provincial and national-level meets.

This group focuses on continued technical development, stroke efficiency, and race endurance. Swimmers are expected to decrease the number of stroke cycles or maintain them while swimming faster, particularly during competition. Emphasis is placed on building stroke-specific strength and power while preserving technique under fatigue.

Kodiaks swimmers are typically training to meet or exceed the following time standards at sanctioned meets:

100m Freestyle ≤ 1:05
200m Freestyle ≤ 2:15
400m Freestyle ≤ 4:50
100m Backstroke ≤ 1:20
100m Breaststroke ≤ 1:25
100m Butterfly ≤ 1:20
200m IM ≤ 2:40
400m IM ≤ 5:45

Training sets for Kodiaks include:

4 x 400 IM @ 7:00
12 x 100 Kick @ 1:50
24 x 100 Freestyle @ 1:25

In addition to physical development, Kodiaks swimmers are developing important cognitive and analytical skills to support their performance. They are learning to:

Calculate and monitor stroke rate (SR) and distance per stroke (DPS)
Use heart rate to guide training intensity
Select race strategies based on targeted SR and DPS combinations
Understand the relationship between training sets and energy systems
Demonstrate a foundational understanding of training periodization

Kodiaks athletes are expected to demonstrate leadership within the club by setting a positive example for younger teammates. They are also encouraged to take initiative, communicate effectively with coaches, and take ownership of their development.

Silvertips

10 times per week

319.90 / month

3,837.75 / session

Payment Schedule

1,279.58	due	2027-02-01
1,279.58	due	2027-04-01

Fees and discounts

Starting: September 8, 2026
Ending: July 16, 2027
Closed

Competitive : Silvertips

Silvertips

Appropriate Athlete Development: Train to Compete / Train to Win
Age Range: 13–19+
Roster Group: Competitive

The Silvertips group represents the Whitehorse Glacier Bears’ most advanced training level, designed for dedicated athletes in the Train to Compete stage of the Appropriate Athlete Development Model. Swimmers in this group are actively pursuing high-level performance, often with the goal of excelling at Swim BC Provincial Championships and beyond.

This group focuses on refining stroke efficiency, power, and racing strategies. Athletes work to reduce stroke cycles or maintain them while increasing speed, particularly under race conditions. Training emphasizes technical precision, strength development, and targeted endurance.

Silvertips swimmers are expected to meet advanced training standards, such as:

4 x 400 IM on ≤ 6:30
12 x 100 Kick on ≤ 1:45
24 x 100 Freestyle on ≤ 1:20

In addition to physical preparation, Silvertips athletes demonstrate a strong understanding of training science. They can apply their knowledge of energy systems, training paces, and work-rest ratios, and use test-set data to guide their performance goals.

Leadership, independence, and a positive team presence are hallmarks of this group. Silvertips athletes are role models within the club, actively supporting and inspiring younger teammates while maintaining high personal standards in and out of the pool.

Returning Varsity

Competitive : Returning Varsity

Returning Varsity

Appropriate Athlete Development: Train to Compete / Train to Win
Age Range: 18+
Roster Group: Competitive

The Returning Varsity group is designed for post-secondary athletes who are home in Whitehorse during the summer months and wish to continue training with purpose and structure between varsity seasons. These athletes typically compete at the U SPORTS or collegiate level and bring a high degree of experience, self-direction, and performance focus to their training.

This group provides a flexible yet challenging environment tailored to maintain and enhance competitive fitness, refine technical execution, and support race preparation for late-summer meets or varsity pre-season benchmarks. Workouts are designed to accommodate the athlete’s current training phase, post-season recovery, or early-season build-up.

Athletes in the Returning Varsity group are expected to:

Train with intensity, consistency, and professionalism
Bring leadership and maturity to the training environment
Communicate openly with coaches about varsity goals, timelines, and support needs

Returning Varsity swimmers model advanced training habits and often serve as positive examples for younger athletes. While these athletes are not integrated into the full-year training and competition calendar, they remain valued members of the Competitive Roster Group during their time with the club.

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