What Learning to Swim at 23 with Dual Boards Taught Me
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By Chadé Herring
I grew up in a non-athletic family. Sure, my uncles would play sports like football when they were younger, but swimming was never on the radar. My family leaned more toward the creative side; musicians, writers, and actors filled my world. So, the idea of learning how to swim wasn’t exactly a priority.
As a kid, I used to dream of being a mermaid, gliding gracefully through the water. But that dream always felt out of reach because I didn’t have the basics down. Swimming in the deep end scared me, and without proper lessons, the water felt more like a barrier than a playground.
Fast forward to August of 2025: I work at Rip Current Sports, a company with learning to swim at its core. When our CEO, Jose Gallagher, found out that I didn’t know how to swim, he made it his mission to teach me in just one day. Determined, I packed up my swim cap, swimsuit, goggles, and a little courage for what would become one of the most empowering experiences of my life.
We started on a Friday afternoon. Jose had me get into the water on my own first, just to see what I could do naturally. After watching me struggle a bit, he introduced me to the Rip Current Sports Dual Boards, a versatile swim aid that also works as a kickboard. At first, I felt stiff, and I kept my feet firmly on the ground. But with a little patience and encouragement, things began to shift.
That’s when Julia, our operations manager and a competitive swimmer, joined me in the pool. She showed me how to lie on my back and swim backward with the Boards in a V position. At first, I wasn’t sure I could do it. But then something amazing happened suddenly, I was floating and moving on my own. The best part? I didn’t even realize it at first! It felt so natural that for a moment, I forgot I was “learning” and just enjoyed the freedom of swimming.
Of course, the real challenge came next: the deep end. Nine feet of water stood between me and my fear. This was something I had avoided my whole life. Jose got in the pool with me, encouraging me to swim faster and more confidently. Step by step, we inched toward the deep end together. My heart was racing because my feet couldn’t touch the bottom, and I worried about drowning. But Jose reassured me, and with the Dual Boards acting as both a flotation device and a kickboard, I discovered how to float, adjust my body, and even sit up without swallowing half the pool.
That moment changed everything. For the first time, I felt safe, capable, and free in the water.
Learning to swim at 23 wasn’t just about conquering my fear; it was about reclaiming a dream I had as a little girl. The Rip Current Sports Dual Boards made swimming accessible and intuitive, turning something that once felt impossible into something achievable in a single afternoon.
Now, I don’t just see the water as intimidating; I see it as an opportunity. An opportunity to grow, to challenge myself, and to finally embrace that inner mermaid I dreamed of becoming as a kid.
If you’ve ever thought it was “too late” to learn to swim, trust me—it’s not. With the right support and the right tools, like the Dual Boards and other swim aids, anything is possible.