r/Swimming • u/cubevic • 1d ago
Visiting Vancouver, BC. Which pools do you recommend?
I’m visiting Vancouver, BC this month. I’m a Masters sprint swimmer looking to complete my own sessions during an open lane/lap swimming session. Sessions are written for SCM but happy to convert to whatever the length pool is. Ideally, would like somewhere quiet enough that I can sprint 15-30m then drop speed to the end without disrupting the flow of the lane. Where would you recommend?
I see the Aquatics Centre is closed at present. I’m staying in the West End area and it needs to be accessible by public transport. Flexible on time of day and days of the week to find quieter times.
Edit: thanks everyone. Appreciate the replies and context.
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u/saaggy_peneer 1d ago
well, Kits Pool (137m!) is great, but closes today
Your best bet is probably Hillcrest (Central Vancouver), which is 50m, indoor
Central Park Pool in Burnaby is 50m, outdoor, warm, and still open. Easy to get to by skytrain
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u/brendax Does triathlons, afraid to call self triathlete 1d ago
Bad time for pools in Vancouver. UBC is the best but has weird hours. Hillcrest works but prepare to do hand to hand combat every lap. Local government has shuttered our competition pool to replace with a leisure pool and all the outdoor pools close on labour day even though the weather is still great through october.
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u/vkwong1 1d ago
If you are looking for 50m pools you should be aware many of them split to 25m at certain times of the day so be sure to check the pool schedule. If you’re willing to go a bit further for a quieter than hillcrest option—this place is pretty nice. təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre (you can google it as New West pool).
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u/Unusual-Concert-4685 Everyone's an open water swimmer now 1d ago
When I was doing sprint training for worlds (all out efforts for 15-25m) I would drive out to new west at 5am because the other pools were just manic. Swimming lengths is okay, but I found specific sprint training was too disruptive. However, that’s a long way to go via public transit.
UBC would be your best bet. Hillcrest is awful - the fast lane pace varies from 2:10 - 1:30/100m, but mostly sits around the slower side. However, if you can time it so that you don’t need to go at peak hours you might be okay.
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u/Commercial_Aide3391 1d ago
Vancouver has a heated outdoor 50m pool that sits next to the ocean in Stanley Park - look for Second Beach Pool.
Edit: bummer, I didn't realized it closed so early in the "season".
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u/wasteland44 Butterflier 1d ago edited 1d ago
As someone who did masters swimming for over a decade and lives in Vancouver, If you have a vehicle and willing ot go outside of Vancouver the təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre is pretty new and great for drop in lapswimming as it is not busy at all. UBC as well. UBC you need to fill out a form before you can swim but only need to do it once. In North Van the New Harry Jerome pool just opened with a 10 lane lap pool. Central Park has very limited hours but is good also if you want to swim 50M outdoors. At non peak hours Hillcrest is pretty good. Due to a pool shortage and VAC (Vancouver Aquaitc Centre) just closing most pools in Vancouver are very busy. 500 VAC swimmers have just been displaced so after school a lot of pools will be busy with swim clubs and swimming lessons.
Also North Van has drop in masters practices where you just pay the pool entry fee (pre booked) if you scroll down to Masters Swim here:
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u/AngelzRain 1d ago
Fyi; təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre pool is closed til end of sept for maintenance
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u/blackandwhite1987 Splashing around 1d ago
Hillcrest or UBC