Dive Saskatchewan hosted a diving clinic at the Gallagher Centre Water Park for watersports fans over the weekend.
Dive Sask clinic instructor, Ainsley Oliver from Saskatoon, says the purpose of the clinic was to introduce participants to diving safety and to introduce area youngsters to something they may not be exposed to daily. "Typically everyone is exposed to hockey and soccer and there isn't really a program for diving. So we just like to come out and teach some basic skills and introduce them to something that can be exciting," Oliver explains.
Currently Moose Jaw, Saskatoon and Regina have diving clubs. "Being from a quieter, smaller province, people don't see major talent but there is quite a bit of talent in the province which makes things really exciting," Oliver states.
The clinic introduced basic diving skills and positions such as tuck, pike and straight. Participants were taught to keep legs straight, point their toes, how to keep their bodies in line throughout the dive. "The goal of the dive is to have a final 'rip entry' it's called. You want to make the smallest splash possible," Oliver explains.
Six local young people, ages 10 to 17 years, signed up for the clinic, Oliver reports.
Oliver says she was lucky enough to be exposed to diving as a youngster. She enjoyed the experience. "Maybe I can find one of those kids here too," she suggests.
Currently Oliver, who has been diving for 13 years, attends the University of Arizona where she is on the diving team. She has one more year of competitive diving eligibility. Then she plans to focus on school work as well as coaching and judging diving.
