Start your day with a cool, refreshing swim in the ocean! The water can give you that extra jolt of energy and get your blood flowing for the day ahead.

Southern California Aquatics (SCAQ), California Triathlon (Cal Tri) and XTerra Wetsuits are sponsoring organized ocean swims. They are free and open to the public but are not intended for beginners.

They will take place on Santa Monica Beach at 6 a.m., on Thursday mornings starting May 5. Meet at Lifeguard Tower #26, at the end of Ocean Park Blvd./ Barnard Way.

SCAQ head coach and Olympic silver medalist Clay Evans is leading the coaching effort, with support from other SCAQ and Cal Tri coaches.

To participate, swimmers must be able to complete 1,000 yards freestyle (front crawl) in less than 20 minutes. Lifeguards will be present on the beach.

If you are interested, please attend a SCAQ Swim 101 workout before you show up to the beach. We hold them in Culver City, the Valley and South Bay. Visit our website, swim.net/scaq for a complete schedule. Click on free clinic to sign up for a Swim 101.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email us at scaq@swim.net or call our office at (310) 390-5700.