updated 05/11/25
Making Waves is a volunteer-run weekly swim for all self-identified fat people now held most SUNDAYS throughout the year. Making Waves has been a Bay Area tradition since 1980. Making Waves is a fat-positive space and discussions of dieting or weight loss are not allowed. All self-identified fat people are welcome.
WHERE
We swim in the indoor pool at Albany Aquatic Center, 1311 Portland Avenue, Albany, CA
ABOUT THE FACILITY
- POOL: The indoor pool is around 86 degrees and chlorinated. The pool area is very airy and well-ventilated, with very high ceilings.
- ACCESSIBILITY OF POOL: Good street parking. It’s a short, flat walk from the street to the pool entrance, and into the pool or changing room. No stairs required. The pool itself has shallow stairs with sturdy railings that can be gripped on both sides and a hydraulic lift (the signage on the lift states that it is rated to 350lbs, however, the lift itself has narrow arms – measurements and photos coming soon).
- ACCESSIBILITY OF CHANGING ROOMS: The women’s and men’s changing rooms each have sturdy benches in one group changing room, one large group shower and two private showers, one with a shower chair and a hand-held shower sprayer. There is also a private gender-inclusive restroom with an ADA toilet and one shower that has a shower seat with a hand-held shower sprayer.
- WATER BOTTLE FILL STATION: There is a hydration station in the hallway between the indoor and outdoor pool to fill your water bottle with filtered drinking water.
- NO SWIM SUIT SPINNER AVAILABLE: The Albany pool no longer has a swimsuit spinner available
ABOUT THE FAT SWIM COMMUNITY
Since the Coordinating Committee began to manage the swim (late 2015), we have talked a lot about what makes the Fat Swim so special – a respectful and supportive community that comes together without judgement to exercise, swim or play in the water. We want the swim to continue to be a fat-positive environment, without diet talk or focus on weight loss. The Fat Swim exists because of the support – both energy and money – of our communities.
We have been asked about the use of the 200-pound definition of being fat. We recognize that this is a highly imperfect measure of fatness – 200 pounds looks very different on different bodies. However, despite having tried a variety of factors to determine “who is fat” over the years, we haven’t found a better alternative.
Please know the following:
- We have no interest in any policing of body size or gender identity for folks coming to the swim
- We do not want body shaming – of any type – to be part of anyone’s fat swim experience
If you have any questions or issues about the appropriateness or behavior of some particular person at some particular swim session please speak privately to someone on the Coordinating Committee. [Contact Us] At least one of us should be at every swim.
As always, we welcome your comments and ideas about the swim. We thank you for your ongoing interest and participation. And we hope to see you at upcoming swims.
Making Waves Fat Swim 