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.
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.
Lucy Abbott
Makos Coach
Lucy has been part of Swimzone since the age of seven, progressing through the programme and competing at national level. She continues to train and compete today and brings that experience directly into her coaching.
Lucy has been a valued member of the Swimzone coaching team for the past couple of years and is now working with our Makos squad. Her experience as both a swimmer and coach gives her a great understanding of the pathway our young swimmers are working through.
George Dorre
Swimzone Coach
George has been part of Swimzone since the age of nine and has grown through the programme as both a swimmer and now a coach. He continues to train and compete, with a strong focus on national-level competition.
George is an excellent coach and mentor across our squads, bringing energy, focus and a strong understanding of what young swimmers need as they develop. Alongside his coaching, he also works at the pool, so swimming is very much a big part of his everyday life.
Focused, motivated and dependable, George is a great asset to the Swimzone team. Outside the pool, he also has a real passion for photography and is a very talented photographer.
Olly Goodfellow
Swimzone Coach
Olly has been part of Swimzone since the age of nine and has trained and competed to a high level throughout those years. Now in his final year of school, he has continued to develop both as a young coach.
Olly brings great enthusiasm and motivation to his coaching and is always keen to help younger swimmers improve. He has become an important part of the Swimzone team as we continue rebuilding the programme and working towards the high standard of swimming we have always aimed for.
His positive attitude, commitment and willingness to keep learning make him a great role model for our younger swimmers.