OUR STORY

The Very Beginning...

It all began when co-founder April Mate started swimming at the age of 3 with Beach Swim Club in Long Beach, California. Under the guidance of Klaus Barth, a four-time West German national champion and record-holder in the breaststroke, and Ricardo Azevedo, a former national water polo player, two-time “Player of the Year,” and gold medalist at the 1976 South American Games, April honed her skills. Both Klaus and Ricardo, later recognized as world-renowned coaches, shaped April’s swimming foundation during her years at Beach Swim Club (ages 3-14) & also at Wilson Highschool until her graduation in 2000.
At the same time, April trained under Gold Medalist Greta Anderson, working with her for nine years and becoming her assistant at just 12 years old & jumpstarting April’s teaching career. In high school, April further developed her expertise by assisting with her school’s swim team preparations, gaining valuable teaching and coaching experience.

The Journey of Phoenix Swim Academy:

April Mate’s journey into solo swim instruction & working for herself began in 2000 when she started teaching private traveling lessons, bringing her passion and expertise directly to families in their own backyards. In 2001, she further refined her skills by working with renowned swim instructor Ginny Flahive, learning the foundations of professional swim instruction.

From Traveling Lessons to Thriving Locations

Her personal and professional journey took another significant step in 2013 when April & Adrian moved to Lake Elsinore. Together, they shared a vision of providing high-quality swim instruction to the community. Adrian’s involvement was essential to the growth of the business; he brought his expertise in management, maintenance, and creating effective curriculum. He also plays a key role in training and supporting instructors, ensuring consistency and quality in all lessons.
In 2005, life took a new turn when April was expecting. Balancing family responsibilities with her dedication to teaching, she continued offering private lessons.
In 2017, Adrian and April co-founded Swim Safe Aquatics in the Inland Empire. What started as a mobile swim school in 2015, quickly grew, fueled by demand and a shared vision for creating a more permanent space for students. As the business expanded, they realized a permanent location was necessary to accommodate the growing number of students.

Swim Safe Aquatics eventually evolved into Phoenix Swim Academy, with its first location serving as a foundation for future growth. Over the years, the academy has expanded into multiple locations, becoming a trusted name in swim education.

Today, Phoenix Swim Academy is a reflection of both Adrian and April’s hard work and dedication. While April is in the office & the pool, Adrian’s operational expertise and commitment to quality make the academy thrive. Together, they have built a community-focused business that provides a safe, supportive environment where swimmers of all ages and abilities can learn, grow, and succeed.

Why We Teach the Way We Teach:

There was a time when swimming lessons felt like a struggle for both parents and children. The frustration of watching a child cry in the water, not understanding why they weren’t progressing, weighed heavily on April and Adrian. In fact, it was April watching her own child, in tears during lessons, the child you see in the photos above, that became the defining moment for them—a moment when they realized something had to change.

But April’s journey to this realization wasn’t without its own struggles. As a young child, she too cried during swimming lessons. She thought it was normal—after all, doesn’t every kid cry when learning something new or difficult? She grew up thinking that it was just part of the process. “There’s no crying in swimming,” she would joke, knowing full well that “there’s no crying in baseball.” But as April progressed in her swim instructor career, witnessing not just her own child’s struggles but seeing the same tears and frustration in many of her students, April knew something needed to change.

She couldn’t accept the idea that learning to swim should be filled with tears, stress, and fear. After witnessing firsthand, the emotional toll it took on her daughter, as well as many other children in lessons, April and Adrian set out on a mission to find a better way.
April, had spent years honing her skills and understanding the needs of each swimmer. Adrian, always the behind-the-scenes problem solver, was determined to eliminate the unnecessary stress that often accompanies swimming lessons. Together, they shared a common goal: to create a method that would allow children, teens, and adults to learn, feel safe, and most importantly—enjoy the process.
One day, after seeing yet another child struggle through a lesson, April and Adrian looked at each other and said, “There has to be a better way.” They wanted to get results without the tears and frustration. They began to dive deeper into the psychology of teaching, researching methods that emphasized trust, patience, and positive reinforcement.
That’s when everything clicked. They developed a student-led teaching method that focused on building trust and empowering swimmers, allowing them to progress at their own pace, based on their own comfort and confidence. This approach doesn’t rush; instead, it nurtures the swimmer’s natural progression, with gentle persuasion, ensuring each individual feels safe and supported.

A Story of Change and Results

This new approach quickly started to produce remarkable results. Children who once cried at the thought of getting into the water were now excited and eager to learn. And it didn’t stop there—teens and adults, many of whom had their own fears or traumatic experiences with water, found relief and success using this method. Phoenix Swim Academy became known for helping traumatized and fearful swimmers of all ages regain their confidence in the water, all while enjoying the process.

April and Adrian’s method of teaching was a game-changer. They combined their years of experience with compassion, patience, and a commitment to positive outcomes. Their goal was always clear: to create an environment where swimmers of all ages and abilities could learn, feel empowered, and experience success without fear, frustration, or tears.
Today, the teaching philosophy at Phoenix Swim Academy stands as a testament to their dedication. It’s a philosophy built on the idea that learning should be a fun, fulfilling experience—not one filled with tears. That moment, captured in the photos of their own crying child, was the catalyst that changed everything for April and Adrian. Their daughter, once a fearful swimmer, is now one of their most sought-after instructors, helping others overcome their fears and succeed in the water. They found a better way to teach—and their students’ success proves it every day.

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

ADRIAN MATE

APRIL MATE

GUINEVERE MATE

ADILINE MATE

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