Brent Foster – Page 5 – Swim Coach & Event Organizer

Event Director - Swim,Tri, Run Coach - Massage Therapist

Cathedral Cove swim results are now in!!

Cathedral Cove Swim Swim Report 2026

A beautiful sunrise greeted the Cathedral Cove swimmers at glorious HaHei Beach. The strong easterlies and rain from the few days prior had gone, replaced by sunshine and hot weather! The wind switch to southwesterly meant it was a little harder getting to the famous Cathedral Cove archway, but great on the way back. The visibility not the usual 30-40 feet underwater but still superb conditions. There were some excellent 4km swim performances with first home wetsuit being Donal Barry in a fine 56.52. Stu Penman and evergreen Kim Harker were second and third in 59.09 and 59.12. In the womens wetsuit young Maisie Penman won in 60.16 while Alexandra McIntosh won silver close behind in 60.18. Third was evergreen Carol Prop (mid 60s like Kim!) in 62.36. The tough non wetsuiters battled it out in the about 19 degree water with Dean Duckworth winning the mens and Amy White the womens. Patrick Kral and Zane Rennie were second and third men and Sarah Poplar and Grace Haak in the womens. All participants completed the swim and a huge thank you to all of them for their efforts. Also a huge thank you to all the Paradise Events volunteer crew and to the generous sponsors Cygnus Law, Canon printer, Samoa Swim Series, T3, HaHei Explorer, HaHei Resort, The Pourhouse, and the HaHei Cafe. The Sunday Swim Safari saw more giant limestone structures above the water and giant snapper below the water.

Hope to see you next year. Thanks.

Services

Massage Service

Brent has a Diploma in Therapeutic Massage from the New Zealand College of Massage gained in 2004. This is a NZQA approved course and involves 1600 hours of theory and practice.
He offers a therapeutic or deep tissue massage from his Mt Wellington practice. Cost is just $70 per hour. Please book as early as possible! Thank you.

Triathlon/Running coaching
Brent has extensive triathlon and running experience to match his swimming coaching skills. Mentored and coached by the great Arthur Lydiard and Barry Magee in running, and Hamish Carter’s former coach Jack Ralston in triathlon, are amongst just some of his former coaches. Combine this with Level One and Two coaching courses and his experience in both short and long course triathlon Brent is sure he can improve your performance and enable you to short cut your way to a better performance.

For the triathlete, I will:
Teach you an effortless and powerful stroke.
Help you understand your movements in the water and its relationship to stroke efficiency.
Increase your confidence level for open water swimming.
Support you during your training period with mental and physical training and race strategy tips.
Show you efficient sighting and breathing for open water swims.
Help you achieve effortless breathing for pool swimming whether you are competing or training.

For recreational swimmers, I will:
Help you to improve all four strokes, if wanted
Show you how to make your stroke efficient
Let you experience interesting and fun workouts to help meet your personal fitness goals
Show you drills, which will help you understand your body better in this environment.

For competitive swimmers, I will:

– Improve your endurance, technique and mental focus in the water.

– Show you how to make all your strokes more efficient.
Help you gain speed and power.

– Teach you how to use the walls for efficiency using streamlined underwater techniques.

Coaching fees:

$60 one-on-one sessions for 50 mins.
$120 per month includes:
* A customised tailor made program for you.
* A complimentary one hour face to face ‘brainstorming’ session.
* A complimentary one hour massage.
* Regularly available for feedback re training.
Two month commitment required.

Brent has been swim coaching in and around Auckland mainly in a part time role since 1983. He has worked with a variety of coaches at a variety of swim pools coaching all levels and abilities. These include:

Swimming New Zealand Coaching, Beginner Level Adults, Olympic pool Newmarket.

West Auckland Aquatics Swim Squad, Senior and Junior Competitor Squads, West Wave Henderson.

Glen Eden Intermediate School, Learn To Swim.

North Shore Swim Squad, Senior Squad, Birkenhead North Shore.

YMCA Tri-Squad, Tepid Baths.

YMCA Learn to Swim children, Development.

Competition Squad kids, Tri-Squad and Fitness Squad (ten years as Head Coach), Technique and Learn to swim adults, Glen Innes.

Mt Wellington Swim Club, Head Coach competition and Development Swim Squads.

Coupled with many Swimming NZ Coaching courses and his twenty years as a competition swimmer, surf lifesaver and triathlete he brings plenty of experience to his coaching.