December 6, 2024: Aqua Mafia
Happy Friday everyone. I'm joining you from sunny Miami this week, prior to boarding a cruise. If you're interested in vacation pool content from RCCL's Icon of the Seas, please check out what's happening on Instagram. If you're not, I'll catch up with you next Friday in this newsletter.
As a Canadian (and a business owner), my vacations fall somewhere between the two extremes shown below, so please don't hesitate to contact me if you need any assistance wrapping up your year. I have no idea where replies to this newsletter are being delivered, it's something I'll solve when I'm back, so please send a new email or use the Contact Us form linked above.
The title of this entry comes from a recent webinar I attended where "aqua mafia" referred to those very consistent, regular users (bathers) and vocal minority who sometimes make management's life extra challenging. 🙃
Work Smart, Not Hard
This week, I want to highlight a few more products that recently came across my radar. A reminder that I (Katie Crysdale) and we (Lakeview Aquatic Consultants) never endorse products, per our company policies. Any products or brands I share here I genuinely love or would purchase. We never receive kickbacks, financial compensation or referrals. Your trust is irreplaceable.
Competitor EZ-TENSIONER
I'm not sure how I missed the release of this product last year, but this is a GAME CHANGER if you've ever had to convert a 50m Olympic pool from 16 lanes short (course) to 10 lanes long (course) between two back-to-back pool bookings. Here's a video demo how it connects to the lane rope/line.
Draft Top Pro & DT Lift Universal
I realize lots of aquatic facilities do not offer food concessions or alcohol sales, but as I'm coming to learn, in-park guest spending is the cornerstone of water park revenue. I met the founders of Draft Top at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, and had the opportunity to chat with them about this product bootstrapped via Kickstarter. I see this product (including a $10 hand-held version you can buy for your home) as a huge benefit to many types of facilities where cans can be used as heavy projectiles.
The Portable Changing Room
I've seen small tents on pool deck of hotels that host organizations like British Swim School (see below), but this seems like a much more practical option. Either way, look for pop up pod/tent/canopy/changing room from the online retailer of your choice if you're a facility with a dearth of change rooms during lessons.
Certified Pool Operator (CPO) Classes
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our last Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) Certified Pool Operator (CPO) class of 2024 this week. Registration for 2025 classes is ongoing (and brisk!); we are shipping via FedEx Ground while Canada Post remains on strike.
I keep track of all compliments and insults we receive over the course of a year in a folder. I highly recommend doing this so you have feel-good vibes to refer back to on a cloudy day. This is definitely the most unusual compliment I've ever received in eight years of teaching the CPO program:
Christmas Programming
It's obviously not appropriate for every aquatic facility to do Christmas-themed activities or decorations, but I want to share a few ideas I've seen this week that I love.
Farmer's Branch (TX) Aquatic Center gets people physically into the building by mailing letters to Santa. Lean into the Canada Post strike: water nymphs helping to deliver the mail? The Farmer's Branch Instagram account is always a great one to follow if you are looking for content ideas - the Grinch is at aquafit, staff are publicly recognized, equipment repairs are documented, and more. We actually had Paul Macias chat about his social media strategy during a POOLaide Webinar in 2020.
I've heard of Swim with Santa (below), but have always thought that it is 1) potentially a drowning hazard for Santa, and 2) not necessarily something that engages the community?
On a webinar recently, a water park stated that they actually do a full "Sit with Santa" in the wave pool by relocating the lifeguard stand into the pool so kids can walk/swim through shallow water and then climb up for a photo opportunity with Santa safely ensconced on stand. I don't currently have any photos, but I'm trying to source some for a future newsletter.
If you are looking for a quick project when you've got extra guards around, what about this pool noodle Christmas tree? It doesn't take much time and you can probably buy the supplies under an existing program equipment GL.
Or what about some pool noodle gnomes for outside the changeroom doors?
Thanks so much for being here, I'll see you on the other side.
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.