Who is Coaching?

A little background on the Founder of Surge Swim Method. A method of teaching swimming that embodies the premise that all things you do in swimming are either helping you move FORWARD or their not.

Meet your Coach

A little bit about me: Stephanie (Kozowyk) Havelka

I grew up on the East Coast competitive swimming, swimming in lakes/ponds, coaching/teaching swimming, cross country running, lifeguarding and hitting the lifeguard competition circuit. This lead to triathlon of ALL distances, and a move to Hawaii after my Ironman in Kona.

My Hawaiian Ironman experience was amazing! The entire journey from qualifying to get there, getting there, and doing it on my own (I went by myself at age 22) was profound.

My eyes were opened to beauty of the islands, life in the Pacific, learning new sports and living life as it is meant to be lived, as ONE BIG ADVENTURE.

I immediately felt a connection with the islands and the people. I continued teaching and coaching swimming and expanding my swim knowledge and newfound ocean knowledge through my new sport outrigger canoe paddling.

**I got some feedback from friends/clients who read through this site...and they said that this should be the part where I am supposed to tell about all of my sports, how I was ranked, accomplishments etc....buckle up!**

To be honest, this is difficult for me to do. I haven't kept track over the years of all the wins, in fact I did not stock pile all my medals...but I can tell you I excelled in the sports of competitive swimming, Masters Swimming, Open Ocean Swimming (on the Big Island of Hawaii), Triathlon Age Group, EXTERRA Triathlons, 5K's, outrigger (paddled outrigger with some of the most elite women I know in sport...we won the World Championship Molokai Crossing & numerous Hamilton Island Australia Cup wins, amongst others over a 20 year paddling career span).

I traveled the globe as front man Dexter Holland of the band The Offspring's personal trainer.

A small venture into Flatwater Kayaking and it led to Olympic Trials 1996 for Flatwater Kayak (and I was awful, I think I came in last, but that experience taught me SO much).

What my list of "wins" doesn't tell you is about the coaches and other elite athletes that I hung out with who taught me so many strategies and skills. It doesn't tell you about my failures and what I learned from them. It doesn't tell you that at 18 I worked at a swim camp that weekly brought in swim Olympians Matt Biondi, Tracy Caulkins, Mary T. Meagher (Madame Butterfly) and Jim Naber, I got to coach along side them and be coached by them too. I have many Olympian friends in various sports who I still, to this day, learn from. Because of my personal experiences and influences of sport elites learning from the best of the best, I have a lot of wisdom and knowledge to pass on.

I was featured in John Assarf's book (he was highlighted in the movie The Secret) on Visualization and I shared my personal technique in his book as well.

I also have had the pleasure of working with actors/actresses preparing for movie rolls that required them to swim.

There is so much to be being a good athlete, and then there is a whole lot more to rising up the ranks to being a GREAT athlete. There are specific "out of the water" practices to keep you and your mind fine tuned. This is a topic that I personally love and enjoy the most, the true mind body connection and HOW TO EXCEL.

I have very specific underlying strategies that are done out of the water to enhance your performance in the water with my swimmers through Age Group programs like AZOT's in Southern Cal, Masters Swimmers, Open Ocean Swimmers, Military - Camp Pendleton, and my new new new swimmers as well. I continue to teach these methods through my Surge Swim Method™ and MENTAL TRAINING Techniques.

WHY I Teach/Coach Swimming

I. LOVE. THE. WATER.

I WANT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.

It is that simple.

Watching super serious adults who are bogged down with life take time out to immerse themselves in the water (pool or ocean) is a fete in itself!

The real payoff for me and you, the swim student, learning a new skill, releasing all preconceived notions about it and finding a new connection to the water.

How could I not love it? It is SO FUN!

My Portrait Done By Ober Reef Photography

Why I Focus On Adults Only

I focus on adults for a few reasons:

1. If you have shown up to take a lesson, that means you have personally made a decision and took action to see your goal come to fruition. I love this! You are already motivated! It is not like Mommy dropped you off and you have to take the lesson, you are CHOOSING to take the lesson.

2. Adults have very specific goals, and I know I have the skills to get you there.

3. I truly enjoy watching you improve!

IT IS AWESOME to watch adults with fears, old belief patterns, lack of water skills suddenly have a NEW experience and actually enjoy the water.

What will you learn

It is my highest intention and my job to coach and teach you from the level you are at right now to your next best level.

You will learn:

*imperative foundations to breathing, body positioning for your stroke, efficiencies and techniques.

*your options in case you are ever in a life threatening situation so that you can stay calm to make the best decisions to stay alive

*and so much more

The Right Fit

I do have a few very important values that I would like to express here:

1. For a student to progress with their teacher/coach the relationship needs to be the right fit. I am not the only swim instructor in town and there are plenty who might even be a better fit for you. After our first discussion and I learn where you are now, and where you would like to go with your swimming, it will become clear if we are good fit.

2. I will tell you what I am not, a babysitter. I expect you to do the work and give it your best effort. I, in turn, I will give you my undivided attention and BELIEVE in you long before you ever believe in yourself because I know what is possible.

3. My goal is to be of value to you. I want you to walk with not only new skills, but a new perspective and mindset to succeed and excel in swimming, no matter what level you are starting at.