Saturday Group Swim at Nexen Beach (2022-03-26)
Join us for “Dip & Sip” at Nexen Beach on Saturday March 26. We will meet for a dip and then head out to a cafe afterwards for some coffee/tea. Looking forward to seeing you there!
Time and Place
This swim takes place at the east side of Nexen Beach (also known as Newport Beach or Oceanfront Peninsula) near the mouth of the Blind Channel. We will meet at the north end of the sandy beach here at 9:45am and plan to be in the water by 10:00am. Please allow yourself a few minutes to park, get ready, and sign in before the mandatory safety briefing at 9:55am sharp. If you miss the safety briefing at 9:55am you will not be allowed to swim with us. See below for additional location and parking info.
Swim Format
This beach is a short walk from the car, and with the cool temperatures at this time of year it’s likely that most of us will dip rather than swim! If you do choose to get in some distance, we recommend swimming parallel to the shore and getting long before you get cold!
Getting Here and Parking
We chose this location because it’s easily accessible by foot, bike, or car. The Oceanfront Loop trail takes you from downtown (near the Howe Sound Brewpub) right to the beach and is a lovely walk or bike. However, the access across the main Nexen Beach may be blocked during construction. Updates are posted by the developer here.
There is a designated parking spot on the right (west) side of the road a few minutes’ walk north on Galbraith Avenue from the north side of the beach, so allow yourself a little extra time to walk in. See their map here. (Map is about half way down the page, truck crossing star near the purple box is where you enter the north side of the beach; the small orange square is where the new parking is).
Safety
There are no lifeguards at this beach. There is the possibility for motorized boat traffic, but it is unlikely to come too close to our swimming area. Paddlers and divers are also common at this location. Swimming wild is an amazing experience, but it’s not without risk. This is how we manage it:
– We swim within our own abilities, and need to be honest with ourselves about our abilities if we decide to venture out of our depth. We want to be out of the water long before we get too cold or exhausted
– We swim with a buddy, and check in regularly to see how each other is doing
– We each carry a whistle. If anything happens, you can signal for help
– We each wear a brightly-coloured swim cap (such as your SWS member cap!). This makes us easy to spot. A brightly-coloured tow float is also highly recommended, and can be great to hold on to when having a break out in the deep water
– We will sign in before the safety briefing and sign out before we leave. If we don’t sign out, the volunteers will call us, then our emergency contact, then the first responders. This is incredibly important to make sure we can account for everyone
– We will have a first aid kit and at least one person trained in first aid present at every swim. However, this first aid person may be in the water and will not necessarily be able to respond promptly. We may also be far away from the kit as you venture out on your swim.
Gear
Each swimmer is responsible for their own choice of gear, but here are some suggestions:
– A swimsuit or swim apparel of choice (no judgement)
– A wetsuit (optional)
– A brightly-coloured swim cap or hat/toque (cap included with your membership)
– A loud whistle (mandatory; available for $5 at our swims)
– Goggles and ear plugs (optional)
– A brightly-coloured tow-float (recommended)
– Snacks and water
Once you get out of the water, you might want:
– A large towel or two
– A mat or extra towel for standing on while getting changed
– A dry-robe, towel robe, or just a big towel for getting changed under
– Loose clothing that’s easy to pull on when you’re slightly damp. Buttons, zippers, or other fussy things that are difficult to use with numb fingers are not recommended
– Water shoes, crocs, or flip flops
– A warm drink
– A snack
About the Location
This beach has an absolutely stunning backdrop of the Siyám Smánit (Stawamus Chief). Its mostly sandy bottom gets deeper gradually as you travel away from shore. There can be some logs and other hazards beneath the surface, but water conditions are typically clear enough to see them coming. Conditions tend to be relatively calm and sheltered from the wind, but Squamish is known for its wind!
Washrooms
There are no flush toilets or handwashing facilities. There are also no change rooms or showers, so you’ll want to come dressed and ready to swim.
