Since its inception in 1959, the Burnaby Barracudas have brought together the best of competitive sport with fun, friendship and a community spirit.
The establishment of Burnaby’s original summer swim club was for kids who did not have the opportunity to swim all year round, but still wanted to compete in summer meets.
The club, affectionately called “the Cudas” by members and alumni had humble origins at Deer Lake. Parents were required to register their children at city hall, and lesson-goers were picked up from their respective schools by bus. The Cudas trained out of Deer Lake from 1959 to1964 before moving to the newly built outdoor pools of Central Park, MacPherson, Kensington and Robert Burnaby.
Over the decades, the club grew in numbers and added competitive water polo and diving programs. The Cudas have hosted countless swim meets and water polo tournaments at Central Park Pool including numerous Regional Championships and two BCSSA Provincial Championships (1997 and 2004).
Cudas athletes have had consistent and impressive performances both within the BCSSA and beyond. We have proudly watched our most talented members advance to higher levels of competition including university varsity teams and even Canada’s Olympic Water Polo Team. While many more have given back to the sport and community by becoming coaches, lifeguards, swim instructors, volunteers and pursued excellence in their studies and careers.
Our community of athletes, coaches and parent volunteers has a long and dedicated history of providing our youth with opportunities to train, compete, achieve excellence and life skills in the pool and beyond.