Aquatics

The Crossroads Pool is home to a variety of programming for students and the broader community, including swim instruction, conditioning and competitions. The facility also hosts our year-round WaveRunners swim team and private swim lessons, both of which are open to the public.

About the Crossroads Pool

Open-air and heated pool
Length: 75 feet
Width: 40 feet (six lanes)
Depth: Ranges from 3 feet to 6 feet 7 inches

All of our Aquatics staff members are certified by American Red Cross in Water Safety Instruction and/or Lifeguarding.

Public Swim Team

WaveRunners

The Program

WaveRunners is a swim team program operated by Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California, and open to swimmers throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Participation on a school-sponsored swim team is not required.

WaveRunners is committed to creating a positive competitive experience for each individual swimmer, including opportunities to participate in meets throughout the season. Emphasis is placed on proper stroke mechanics, social-emotional well-being, team bonding and overall physical conditioning. Our athletes create and re-evaluate their personal swimming goals regularly and are supported in realizing these aspirations throughout their time on our team.

To ensure that each swimmer receives individual attention throughout every workout, the team is limited to only 36 participants and led by three coaches.

List of 2 items.

Novice Team

Swimmers are required to know freestyle with side-breathing, as well as backstroke. Emphasis is placed on learning the four competitive swim strokes and building meaningful relationships with one another.

WaveRunners offers different enrollment options depending on whether a swimmer also participates on a middle or upper school swim team. Swimmers who are not on a school team may enroll for the full school year, while middle and upper school team swimmers can enroll for the portions of the year that do not overlap with their school swim season. Specific dates and pricing are provided during registration.

Workouts are all non-holiday Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings throughout the school year from 5:30-7 p.m.
Intermediate/Advanced Team

Swimmers are required to know all four competitive strokes and be able to comfortably complete 10 x 50s on a 1:00 base, as well as a set of 5 x 100 IMs on a 2:00 base. Focus is on conditioning, stroke mechanics and goal-oriented training.

WaveRunners offers different enrollment options depending on whether a swimmer also participates on a middle or upper school swim team. Swimmers who are not on a school team may enroll for the full school year, while middle and upper school team swimmers can enroll for the portions of the year that do not overlap with their school swim season. Specific dates and pricing are provided during registration.

Workouts are all non-holiday Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings throughout the school year from 5:30-7 p.m.

The Coaches

Our coaching staff brings decades of experience at the age-group, collegiate, middle school and high school levels.

List of 2 items.

Tara Shima

Advanced Team Head Coach
Tara has over 30 years of swim coaching experience along with decades of experience teaching Kinesiology at Santa Monica College. She swam age group throughout her childhood, competed in college and is still an avid ocean swimmer. Her love for the sport is matched only by her care and respect for her athletes.
Virginia Gustafson

Novice Team Head Coach
Virginia "Gini" holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education. She was a club swimmer in her home state of Hawaii, as well as a competitive swimmer and waterpolo player in college. Her experience and education make her a valuable mentor for both the physical and socio-emotional growth of her athletes.

Enroll in WaveRunners

Open to the Public

Private Swim Lessons

Private lessons are available for swimmers ages 3 and up and are taught by our American Red Cross-certified instructors. Lessons are held on Saturdays and run for 45 minutes, which includes approximately 30 minutes of instruction and 15 minutes of structured “fun time.” Swimmers are assessed in their first session, and lessons are crafted to meet the needs of individual swimmers. Our teaching philosophy includes creating a learning environment where students improve their overall swimming and water safety skills in a fun setting that encourages confidence and enjoyment in the water.

Fall 2026 private swim lessons are sold out. Spring, Summer and Fall 2027 lessons will start to enroll in April 2027.