Written for Sport Tours International and originally published here:
https://web.archive.org/web/20200511232433/http://sporttours.net/news/2017/July_2017_-_Swim
“A rough practice in Puerto Rico beats ANY practice in the cold Northeast.”
—WPI student athlete on STI swim training in Rincón
Offseason training is essential for keeping college swimmers in competitive form and focused on goals. Top-notch teams take advantage of winter breaks to provide athletes with opportunities to improve individual performance. However, if coaches want to up the ante in motivating athletes to work hard during a break, they should consider conducting training at first-rate natatoriums in easy-to-reach tropical locales such as Puerto Rico. Sport Tours provides all-inclusive premium packages at facilities that are continually upgraded with state-of-the-art features such as Rough-Tex non-slip diving platforms.
Heading to a vacation destination for training during the dead of winter will not only rejuvenate players but enable them to enjoy the amenities of a beachside resort. Identifying the best training facilities for college teams requires extensive knowledge of natatoriums all over the globe. With over 30 years of experience in arranging winter swim training trips for colleges and universities, Sport Tours enables coaches to focus solely on training and not worry about trip logistics.
Rincón-Mayaguez (Porta Del Sol) in Puerto Rico is an ideal location as it has world-class swimming facilities in a picturesque beach town just two hours by air from Miami. The cost of a Rincón-Mayaguez trip with Sport Tours is comparable to traveling to Florida. Plus, U.S. citizens do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico. Transportation includes airport and practice transfers so coaches will not be burdened with driving students back and forth from the natatorium.
Teams will feel as if they are on an island escape as accommodations include a hotel right on the beach with easy access to plenty of recreational activities. Rincón-Mayaguez training trips also include opportunities to go paddle boarding and snorkeling as well as a hiking excursion to a private waterfall.
Each day begins with a delicious early morning breakfast. All meals feature foods tailored to fit the needs of the athletes. Once a team arrives at the natatorium, athletes have access to 20 short-course and ten long-course lanes. The facilities also include double one and 3-meter diving boards and platforms. The facilities also include double one and 3-meter diving boards and platforms with Rough-Tex, the market-leading diving platform surface. From sprinters to distance swimmers, athletes will enjoy the expansive pool that allows them to practice without crashing into each other.
After workouts, there is plenty for students to do in Rincón, from exploring the sights and shops in the charming, laid-back town to heading to the beach for surfing. Rincón is the most popular destination for surfers on the west coast of Puerto Rico. It is also common to see humpback whales in the area during the winter months.
Athletes that have participated in Sport Tours training trips have described the experience as “exhilarating.” Some teams, like Tufts, even take the time to make fun videos of their trip.
All trip logistics are handled by STI professionals, and professional support is available around the clock.
Some of the teams that trained in Rincón in 2016 and 2017: