Meet Our Coaches
Swim Team Coaches
Coach Rafe
Coach Alec
Coach Cory
What age group(s) do you coach?
I coach the 11-12 as well as the 13-14 age level kids.
What’s your favorite part of coaching?
I enjoy watching my swimmers improve.
What inspired you to be a swim coach?
I was good at it.
What’s your favorite stroke?
Butterfly.
How long have you been coaching?
Forever.
Where have you swam/coached before riptide?
Coached at California Swimming, Beach, Shore, Lakewood Aquatics, Swim City and now Riptide. Was head coach in all but Beach and Riptide.
Where’s your favorite place to eat in OC?
Captain Jack’s
What Correction are you constantly giving?
“Finish your strokes”
Favorite thing about coaching for Riptide?
Watching coach Cory work.
What age group(s) do you coach?
All ages
What’s your favorite part of coaching?
I love watching my swimmers meet their swimming goals, there is nothing quite like it when a swimmer executes a great swim and accomplishes something they’ve been working towards for a long time!
What inspired you to be a swim coach?
I was inspired by my college swim coach, mentor, and founding Riptide head coach Vladi Sapozhkov.
What’s your favorite stroke?
My favorite stroke is Breaststroke… I feel like it’s the most complicated, but also super fun once you’ve mastered it well enough to swim fast.
How long have you been coaching?
I’ve been coaching swimming for 26 years.
Where have you swam/coached before riptide?
I’ve been coaching with Riptide since we opened in 2011, before that I coached for various swim teams within Southern California as well as coaching high school wrestling for 10 years.
Where’s your favorite place to eat in OC?
I like a lot of different places and types of foods but the most common place you’ll find me is getting a chicken or fish bowl from Taco Surf.
What Correction are you constantly giving?
Touch the wall and stop- don’t stop and touch the wall!
Favorite thing about coaching for Riptide?
Riptide is a family and the community spirit that goes with that not only defines us but also inspires me to be the best coach I can be everyday.
What age group(s) do you coach?
White/Red/Blue/Masters
What’s your favorite part of coaching?
Watching swimmers develop both as swimmers and as independent knowledgeable adults
What inspired you to be a swim coach?
Watching swimmers develop both as swimmers and as independent knowledgeable adults
What’s your favorite stroke?
Backstroke
How long have you been coaching?
11 Years
Where have you swam/coached before riptide?
Swam and coached at Green Valley Swim Team and Riptide growing up
Where’s your favorite place to eat in OC?
Coaches Hospitality at swim meets; Paul’s Coffee Shop
What Correction are you constantly giving?
Reach and fingers out first
Favorite thing about coaching for Riptide?
Listening to Rafe when he’s coaching