SafEty - Confidence - Fitness - Speed
Our Team
SwimZone has been developing swimmers and building water confidence for over 40 years right here in the heart of the city. Founded and led by John Ross and Frank Tourelle, our program has been carefully developed over decades to create something truly unique — a fun, achievable, and progressive journey that takes swimmers from their first splash to confident, capable technique and fitness.
Every week, we help over 400 swimmers grow stronger, safer, and more confident in and around the water. Our lessons focus on correct technique and building fitness through a proven pathway that evolves with each swimmer as they move through our carefully designed squad structure.
What sets us apart is the passion and purpose behind our coaching. John and Frank’s experience and innovation have shaped a program that’s not only effective, but exciting. It’s a journey that challenges and supports swimmers at every level — and it works.
So what motivates our SwimZone coaches? We love what we do. We’re a passionate, close-knit team that thrives on helping kids succeed. We enjoy working with children, being part of a positive team culture, and seeing each swimmer reach their potential while having fun along the way. Our coaches go the extra mile for every SwimZone family — creating a safe, supportive, and inspiring environment that sparks a lifelong love for swimming.
JOHN ROSS
Co-owner of SwimZone
Program Manager
NZSCTA accredited; NZ Level 2 Coaching Licence
John is originally from Invercargill and moved to Wellington after finishing school to work under Master Coach Tony Keenan, one of New Zealand’s most respected swim coaches at the time. What began as a one-year opportunity to gain experience in 1982 quickly evolved into a lifelong career in swimming.
With over four decades of experience, John has coached across all levels of the sport — from learn-to-swim and junior development, to competitive swimming, triathletes, open water swimmers, and one-on-one performance training. He also brings valuable experience from coaching and competing in surf lifesaving and water polo.
John holds a Diploma in Pool Management and is a strong advocate for excellence in aquatic education. He currently oversees the mini squads and is on the Swimzone Racing board where he plays a key role in SwimZone Racing’s development pathways especially in planning with the club the seasons activities and calendar.
Beyond the pool, John is the founder and creative force behind Ministry of Swimming, a brand focused on high-quality swimwear and gear. His passions for art, music, design, and manufacturing all feed into his innovative approach — not just to product creation, but to coaching as well.
John is totally committed to growing swimming in Lower Hutt — combining proven methods, creativity, and care to help every swimmer reach their full potential in a fun, supportive environment.
FRANK TOURELLE
Co-owner of SwimZone
Marlins Head Coach
NZSCTA accredited; NZ Silver Coaching Licence
Frank, like John, hails from Invercargill — and the two have shared a remarkable journey that began when they first met at school at age 10. That early friendship grew into a lifelong love of all things aquatic, and together they’ve spent the last 40 years building one of New Zealand’s most respected swimming programs right here in the Hutt Valley.
Frank originally moved to Wellington in 1985 to work at the iconic Naenae Olympic Outdoor Pool, just before heading off on one of his many surfing adventures to Indonesia. By 1988, he was back in Wellington and found his calling as a swim coach, joining forces with John in the Lower Hutt City swim programme. In 1991, the pair secured the contract for developmental and competitive swimming in Lower Hutt — a milestone that launched decades of coaching excellence.
Under Frank and John's leadership, the Hutt Valley has produced swimmers who have competed on the world stage — including the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Cups, and World Youth Championships. Frank has coached some of New Zealand’s top swimming talent and continues to lead SwimZone’s highest-level squad, the Marlins.
Frank holds the top qualification from Swimming New Zealand as a Level 1 Coach and brings a lifetime of passion for aquatic sports. Growing up as a competitive swimmer and lifelong surfer, his connection to the water runs deep. He remains an active surfer to this day and brings the same energy, flow, and focus from the waves into every session on the pool deck.
Frank’s dedication to the sport and his community has helped shape generations of swimmers — and his commitment, vision, and love for the water are at the core of SwimZone’s success.
Phoebe Turner
Coach Makos
Phoebe has been part of the Swimzone family for over a decade — first as a dedicated swimmer, and now as a valued coach. She swam competitively with the club for eight years, specializing in backstroke and achieving success at both regional and national levels, earning numerous medals along the way.
Since 2021, Phoebe has brought her experience and positive energy to the coaching side of the pool. She currently leads our Makos squad and has previously coached both the Aquakids and Stingrays groups, helping swimmers of all levels grow in skill and confidence.
Off the pool deck, Phoebe is completing a Master of Commerce at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington. She’s also passionate about netball, reading, and graphic design — and has a real flair for social media, running the Swimzone Racing Instagram along with content for other sports clubs.
Phoebe’s coaching is driven by her love for the sport and a desire to give back to the team that shaped her swimming journey. Her experience, enthusiasm, and creative edge make her an integral part of our coaching crew.
Courtney Carson — Junior Program Coach
Courtney is a proud Swimzone graduate and a passionate coach currently working with our junior squad program. Her connection to swimming runs deep — from competing as a swimmer from the age of 7 to 22, to now inspiring the next generation through coaching.
As an elite swimmer, Courtney represented New Zealand on two national teams, earning two bronze medals at the Oceania Championships and a gold medal in the 5km event at the New South Wales Open Water Championships. Over her career, she collected a remarkable number of regional and national medals, solidifying her reputation as a dedicated and high-performing athlete.
Courtney holds a Bachelor of Design (Digital Major) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching. She taught digital technology at both intermediate and high school levels for five years, bringing a unique blend of creativity and structure to her coaching style.
Outside the pool, Courtney’s passions are as impressive as her swim career. A voracious reader, she devours 50–100 books a year, and she’s a talented crafter — enjoying crochet, knitting, sewing, and gaming in her spare time.
Swimming is truly in Courtney’s blood. She brings contagious enthusiasm, a wealth of experience, and a heartfelt desire to give back to the sport that shaped her — making her an invaluable part of the Swimzone coaching team.
Sophie Mayo
Aquakids and Mini-squads coach
Niamh McCaul
Aquakids Mini squads coach