First Wave Swim Academy
Mickey Murad: Head Coach and Co-Founder
Mickey Murad has been involved in swimming since an early age. He learned to swim before he could walk and began his competitive career at the age of 5. He quickly advanced through the ranks of San Diego age group swimming, winning several Junior Olympic Championships along the way. His boundaries went beyond the pool lanes as he developed interests in water polo, surfing, bodysurfing and open water swim competitions. As part of the San Diego Jr. Lifeguard program he excelled at their local, regional and national championships, becoming national champion in the open water event. By the age of 12 he was a top southwest regional swimmer, and throughout high school was a multiple CIF champion and All-American. During this time he won 3 Jr. National titles in distance freestyle events, and was invited to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Mickey continued his passion for open water racing, winning several local races including Coronado, Solana Beach, Oceanside and the La Jolla Rough Water. He accepted an athletic scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley where he met and established a close friendship with First Wave co-founder Matt Macedo. During his time at Cal he was a world ranked distance swimmer and achieved All-American status. Mickey eventually returned to San Diego and assisted renowned Head Coach Jeff Pease with North Coast Aquatics, one of the premier club swim teams in the U.S. After a brief hiatus exploring the “real world” (working for LPL Financial), Mickey has returned to his true passion, the world of swimming.
Services Offered by First Wave Swim Academy
Private Swim Sessions
- One-on-one sessions focusing on mechanics and technique for greater stroke efficiency
- In-the-water training demonstrating proper positioning and analyzing stroke from different angles
- Drill work remediating stroke deficiencies
Monthly Clinics
- For the advanced triathlete focusing on race strategies and technique to beginning swimmers being comfortable in the ocean and pool
- Cutting-edge underwater video equipment to see athletes’ improvements and study their stroke out of the water (DVD included)
- Classroom sessions tailored to each clinic
- Keynote speakers, including past and present Olympic-level swimmers, world-ranked triathletes, and top coaches. Many will get in the water during our pool/ocean session to teach and demonstrate.
Open Water Private/Group Sessions
- Private and semi-private ocean swim sessions tailored to client ability
- Beginners recognize rip currents, use duck dive and become comfortable in the impact zone and open water
- Advanced ocean sessions, primarily for triathletes, include race entry/exit, bodysurfing, drafting, land marking and the subtle stroke changes needed during ocean swimming
Personalized Dryland Programs
- Custom dryland programs improve technique in the water
- Exercises selected after a private swim session build strength and flexibility for faster, more efficient swimming
Online Consulting
- Constant feedback to implement corrections during training
- Newsletters on recent and upcoming events, race results, quick tips, promotions, etc
Learn more about First Wave Swim Academy at www.firstwaveswim.com
