The Fastest Swimmers Don’t Just Swim Fast — They Race Smart.
At Catching Water, we know that races are won and lost in the margins.
A better start. A tighter turn. Speed that doesn’t fall apart in the final 15 meters.
This one-day clinic is built for swimmers preparing to compete — giving them the race-specific tools they need to perform when it matters most.
One week before Spring Age Groups. One clinic to sharpen every detail.

👥 Clinicians
Santiago Grassi — Two-Time Olympian (Argentina)
Josh Dannhauser — African & South African Games Champion

This clinic brings together two elite athletes, both Auburn University alumni, who have trained and competed at the highest level of collegiate and international swimming.
With Spring Age Groups just one week away, this session is designed to sharpen the details that win races — explosive starts, efficient turns, and speed that holds under pressure.

🔹 Explosive Starts. Faster Turns. Race-Ready Speed.

Elite swimmers treat starts and turns as separate skills — not just things that happen before and during a race.
In this session, swimmers will learn:
✅ How Olympians approach the blocks — setup, reaction, and explosion
✅ What separates a good turn from a race-winning turn
✅ How to build speed that holds through the finish
✅ Race strategy and mental preparation from athletes who’ve competed on the world stage

This isn’t a workout.
It’s race preparation — the way high-performance athletes train before major competition.

🔹 Session Breakdown 🔹

1️⃣ Start Mechanics — Win the Race Before You Hit the Water

The start is the only part of the race where you have complete control. Santi and Josh will break down the elite approach to block starts used at Auburn and in international competition.
We’ll focus on:
✔️ Block setup and stance — finding your optimal position for power
✔️ Reaction and timing — training the explosive first movement
✔️ Flight phase — body position and trajectory into the water
✔️ Entry and breakout — maintaining speed from start through first stroke
Santi’s experience as an Olympic sprinter brings a world-class perspective to explosive start mechanics and the mental approach to racing from the blocks.

2️⃣ Turn Development — Where Races Are Won and Lost

Most swimmers lose time on turns without realizing it. Elite swimmers use turns to gain ground on the competition.
We’ll refine:
✔️ Approach speed — how to attack the wall without losing momentum
✔️ Flip mechanics — tighter, faster rotation
✔️ Push-off power — engaging the right muscles for maximum wall speed
✔️ Breakout timing — when to surface for optimal speed maintenance
✔️ Open turns (for IM and breaststroke) — efficiency and speed off the wall
These are the exact turn techniques Santi and Josh trained at Auburn — where turns are treated as a competitive weapon.

🔹 Drills You’ll Learn:
💥 Block reaction and explosion drills
💥 Streamline and breakout progression
💥 Flip turn approach and rotation drills
💥 Underwater dolphin kick development
💥 Open turn speed drills for IM and breaststroke

3️⃣ Speed Development — Build Speed That Holds Under Pressure

Speed means nothing if it falls apart when you’re tired. This session teaches swimmers how to develop and maintain race speed.
Swimmers will practice:
✔️ Short, race-pace efforts with technical focus
✔️ Speed maintenance through the back half of a race
✔️ Tempo control — finding the right rhythm for your events
✔️ Finishing speed — how to close out a race strong
This is where swimmers learn how elite athletes execute fast swimming with precision and consistency — so they’re ready to perform at Spring Age Groups.

🏆 Why This Matters for Your Swimmer

With championship season one week away, this clinic gives swimmers the final edge they need.
They will finish the session with:
✅ A more explosive, confident start
✅ Faster, tighter turns that gain time on the competition
✅ Better speed maintenance and finishing ability
✅ Race-ready confidence heading into Spring Age Groups
✅ Tools they can apply immediately in competition

This is how Olympians prepare for big meets.
Now your swimmer can too.

📍 Details

Date: Saturday, February 28th
Time: 03:00 PM – 05:30 PM
Location: 13640 Bellflower Blvd, Bellflower, CA 90706
Price: $150 per swimmer
Limited Spots Available