Two men and seven women from Airdrie will be heading to Calgary this weekend to compete at the national level for the Masters. 

Coach for the Nose Creek Swim Association Alexx Diep says that after the Provincials, the local competitors got a taste of high-level competition and wanted to build on it. 

"They came back from provincials really excited and enthusiastic and wanted to get ready for their next plunge, they decided they wanted to get out of their comfort zone and compete in nationals for the first time, so we had to get the work done which they did." 

The National event will take place in Calgary starting today (May 18th) and be going through until Monday night. 

For the event, the competitors had to switch their training regime and step up their level of commitment and competitive abilities. 

"The training has changed a lot because the antis are higher, your going up against the rest of the county so the focus is higher, the demand is higher and the physical conditioning level is higher to compete at this level." 

This is the first time the competitors have been in a national event for swimming and it is Diep's job to calm their nerves down and try and instruct them to do the best of their abilities. 

"My role is to let them know that they are there because they belong there and that they have done the work so they will be just fine". 

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