I'm visiting in California and have a choice of attending a masters practice on Saturday at either the Loyola or Santi Monica pools. Any feedback as to which practice will be more challenging? Thank you.
SCAQ offers a very unique timeslot and super excellent workout at the new Santa Monica College Pool on Saturday and Sunday afternoons @ 4:00pm.
I have been - loved it and hope to get down there again soon.
It is a 50 meter pool, but I have only seen it set up short course.
Open swimming is in the pool beside the competition pool and lap swim lanes run next to the SCAQ workout.
Check about the drop-in policy / fee though so you don't get stuck in lap swim.
I used to swim at SCAQ back in the day, and for the most part there are a ton of very competitive swimmers at most workouts, and both SM and Loyola have a large turnout.
Both are top quality pools. If it's any indication, my friends there say that they've run into more world class swimmers at SM.
There's more to do in the city of Santa Monica either before or after. Loyola's closer to the airport.
(I've swum at Santa Monica when it was long course, fwiw. It was unforgettable: I hold sub 1:05 scy, 1:15 interval, and I was 3rd or 4th in lane 2 that day. There were at least 16-17 swimmers faster than me.)
