About Us
Swim Works is an organization based out of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine created to pass along information to competitive and noncompetitive swimmers. We have experience with teaching people how to swim all the way up to some of the most advanced research instruments in competitive swimming. We can also handle anything in between from triathlon coaching to masters to the age group swimmers looking to get a little extra help on starts or turns.
We focus on Race Planning and Technique but we are well versed and ready to discuss training, nutrition or any aspect related to performance. We are also happy to talk about the college selection process with HS students or their parents.
This website is a place for SwimWorks to publish content about swimming and the ongoing research. It is also a place to connect with the staff to make appointments or arrange for clinics. We hope you find it helpful.
Staff
Brad Burnham - Owner/Head Coach
I swam competitively for 12 years, spent a good deal of my undergraduate time focused on physiology and finally did my graduate work in physiology. The biggest lesson I learned along the way is that most swim races come down to technique - how well you start, turn and swim rather than how much. I have focused my 20 year coaching career on the technical side of the sport. How do swimmers swim faster or more efficiently? How do they relate to water and how can they relate better in order to take advantage of the unique situation?
Ideas about best techniques for every aspect of competitive swimming dominate my coaching. Racing strategies and tactics provide other focal points. All of the training advice is geared toward racing. Training to race over training to train.
Early on I had the opportunity to work with some phenomenal swimmers at Colorado State and UCLA. Because I was out on the west coast i also had the chance to spend time around Bill Boomer who shaped my thinking in some critical ways. I value great technique, great competition skills, high level of fitness, energy conversion, an understanding of the sport and, of course, fun!