There's nothing like warm water, high humidity and the clean scent of chlorine to get you through what's left of winter and right into spring. For a modest cost, area public pools offer respite from cold weather with lessons, open swim sessions, aerobics and more. Also important to the swimsuit-shy, these are remarkably easygoing places. Saint Tropez they're not.

"You see everyone here," says Jill Jeakins of Seattle, who swims with her family at the Ballard Pool. "All shapes, all sizes, all ages, and it's OK!"

There are the serious swimmers of course: team athletes with no body fat, wearing swimsuits the size and texture of spent balloons; earnest lap swimmers, goggled and dogged, some in Swamp Thing gloves, webbed mitts for better water displacement. That's fine. All are welcome here.

Less ambitious are the dippers and waders who circle the shallow end, fingertips skimming the surface. Water aerobics tends to attract a jovial crowd bobbing up and down to the thump of disco. Not that it's easy. Shaking one's booty underwater is work.

For pure sweetness and light, it's hard to beat the baby swims, for children 6 months to 3 years. At the Ballard Pool one recent weekend, teacher Robyn Smith sang "the wheels on the bus go round and round" as parents twirled kids through blue water. While this resembled play, it was actually the beginning of basic skills, says Jyunko Samson, Ballard's assistant coordinator. "They learn how to get comfortable in water by kicking, blowing bubbles, floating and going underwater," she says.

About the only requirements for this class: Infants must be able to hold their heads up and all kids must wear the impenetrable "swim diaper."

"It's all about containment," Samson says with a smile.

Early learners

Some infants are naturals, like lovely, serene Zéa, the 6-month-old daughter of Nicholas and Christine Francisco of Seattle.

"She loves bath time," says Nicholas Francisco. "She lays there and plays and talks."

They decided to give her swim lessons and from the start she was fearless, possibly because she left her liquid living quarters so recently. "It's like she's thinking, 'Oh, yeah, water. I know what that is,' " says her dad.

Jeakins started her two children early as well. Daughter Lena, now 5, and 8-year-old Drew continue lessons. While they're in the pool, Mom grabs a break. "I talk to the other parents — we all know each other because we've been coming here for years — or I read." She looks around at parents waiting for their children. "And there's a lot of reading going on here," she laughs.

Many community pools offer amenities. Ballard boasts a large Jacuzzi to soak in, an enormous blue tube-slide, a rope swing. Every year, they host a "Dive-in Movie Night."

"This year (Feb. 21) we're having two sessions," says Samson. "We decorate with a Hawaiian theme, and warm up the water so people can stay in longer. It's a lot of fun."

One of the first to offer movies was Issaquah's community pool, which now hosts a dive-in movie every other month, says Jen Newton, recreation supervisor of aquatics there.

"We have a huge white screen and show G-rated films. People like it because we turn off the overhead lights and turn on the underwater lights," she says. Swimmers also are allowed to bring in their own floats. "So they lie down on those and drift around, watching a movie. Non-swimmers can watch from a balcony upstairs."

Pools have the power to entertain even notoriously hard-to-please teenagers, notes Bill Haugen, aquatic supervisor at Lynnwood's Pool and Recreation Center. Saturday evenings are reserved for "Night Waves," a teen program that runs from 9:15 to 11:15 p.m. For $3, local teens play racquetball, dance, swim, eat and generally hang out. It's a popular program, always full.

Lynnwood's pool, built in the '70s, is unique for another reason. "In mid-June, a crane comes in and takes off the roof," says Haugen, "and it stays off until Labor Day."

In the wake of champions

Our region's grandest site of all has to be the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, but don't be intimidated. Yes, it's known for international and national swim events. Sure, it's built like an underground cathedral with pristine blue pools (three) and stunning skylights. True, the recreation/competition pool is undeniably elegant with the deck and water at the same level — very Hollywood. But this is also the people's pool, built for the Goodwill Games and open to just folks for swims, lessons and laps.

"More than 100 world records have fallen here," says spokesman Mike Dunwiddie. "Lap swimmers enjoy being in the same lanes where elite athletes have set records. It's kind of like taking your batting practice at Safeco Field," he says.

You can also enjoy being a spectator. Coming up are the Pac-10 Conference college diving championships for men and women (Feb. 26-28, free of charge) and in March, the U.S. Speedo Championship (also free).

It's an essential skill

Now, a word from the experts to those who can't swim: Learn. With water so plentiful around here, it's not only a shame to miss out, it's also dangerous. Thanks to a levy passed by voters in 2000, Seattle school kids in the third and fourth grades (including private and home-schooled students) can get a voucher good for one session of swim lessons at any Parks and Recreation pool through Dec. 31.

Most adult classes are by private appointment, but shop around. Lynnwood's pool offers less-expensive group sessions. "I think some people feel a little sheepish if they're adults and don't know how to swim," says Bill Haugen. "But it's comforting to know they're not alone. We teach them the way we teach anyone, by building trust, confidence and not swimming past their limits."

And unlike babies — who must hold their heads up and wear swim diapers — about the only requirement for this class is a willingness to learn.

Connie McDougall is a free-lance writer who lives in Seattle.

Girls swimming

(Complete results at www.wiaa.com)

Class 4A state meet

At King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way

Team scores — 1, Skyline, 234; 2, Garfield, 176; 3, Jefferson, 140; 4, Issaquah, 131; 5, Beamer, 126; 6, Kentlake, 117; 7, Jackson, 116; 8, Shorewood, 103; 9, Newport 100; 10, Gig Harbor, 91; 11, (tie) Ballard and Eastlake, 90; 13, Marysville-Pilchuck, 79; 14, South Kitsap, 53; 15, (tie) Stadium and Kamiak, 50; 17, (tie) Kentridge and Bothell, 42; 19, Olympia, 40; 20, Edmonds-Woodway, 38; 21, Inglemoor, 37; 22, Roosevelt, 32; 23, Redmond, 31; 24, Decatur, 30; 25, Kent Meridian, 26; 26, Lake Washington, 25; 27, Eisenhower, 23; 28, Auburn, 20; 29, Kentwood, 19; 30, Federal Way, 18; 31, (tie) Southridge and Mountain View, 15; 33, (tie) Wenatchee, Cascade (Everett) and Lake Stevens, 14; 36, Kelso, 11; 37, Central Kitsap, 7; 38, (tie) Richland and Tahoma, 6; 40, (tie) Shelton and Moses Lake, 5; 42, (tie) Snohomish and Walla Walla; 44, (tie) Mount Tahoma and Stanwood, 1.

FINALS

200 medley relay — 1, Garfield (Fiona Majeau, Jordan Hanna, Louisa Dunwiddie, Maddy Morgan), 1:49.54; 2, Issaquah (Stacy Maier, Kayla Flaten, Marit Borth, Helen Liu), 1:49.79; 3, Beamer (Michelle Rah, Rachel Kim, Kelly Erickson, Lesley Elijah), 1:51.79; 4, Jackson (Alana Pazevic, Courtney McDermott, Karla Bensen, Kaitlin Taylor), 1:53.61.

200 free — 1, Andie Taylor, Skyline, 1:46.55; 2, Fiona Majeau, Garfield, 1:49.71; 3, Dana Michaels, Shorewood, 1:50.80; 4, Ashley Jay, Edmonds-Woodway, 1:52.93.

200 IM — 1, Katie Kinnear, Eastlake, 2:02.53; 2, Rachel Kim, Beamer, 2:05.12; 3, Hannah Taylor, Marysville-Pilchuck, 2:06.13; 4, Maddy Morgan, Garfield, 2:06.40.

50 free — 1, Amber Cratsenberg, Jefferson, 23.87; 2, Helen Liu, Issaquah, 24.26; 3, Louise Moores, Kamiak, 24.50; 4, Anne Kenney, Roosevelt, 24.67.

Diving — 1, Shawna Jordan, Auburn, 422.80; 2, Anna Steiner, Lake Washington, 384.45, Sarah Clark, Marysville-Pilchuck, 345.80; 4, Caitlin Chambers, Garfield, 336.30.

100 fly — 1, Katie Kinnear, Eastlake, 53.10; 2, Annemarie Thayer, Ballard, 55.39; 3, Alana Pazevic, Jackson, 56.20; 4, Meghan O'Keefe, Skyline, 57.95.

100 free — 1, Amber Cratsenberg, Jefferson, 51.57; 2, Felicity Cann, Stadium, 52.50; 3, Kayla Flaten, Issaquah, 52.80; 4, Peggy Liang, Mountain View, 53.31.

500 free — Andie Taylor, Skyline, 4:45.47; 2, Fiona Majeau, Garfield, 4:51.86; 3, Dana Michaels, Shorewood, 4:57.66; 4, Katie Jo Burkland, Ballard, 5:00.05.

200 free relay — 1, Skyline (Nina Zook, Meghan O'Keefe, Maria Volodkevich, Andie Taylor), 1:38.71; 2, Eastlake (Katie Kinnear, Laurel Schy, Becca Fabian, Kara Beauchamp), 1:39.98; 3, Beamer (Kelly Erickson, Michelle Rah, Lesley Elijah, Rachel Kim), 1:40.89; 4, Jefferson (Savannah Coe, Michelle Hogan, Bailey Warrior, Amber Cratsenberg), 1:41.73.

100 back — Annemarie Thayer, Ballard, 54.07; 2, Alana Pazevic, Jackson, 54.94; 3, Rachel Kim, Beamer, 56.88; 4, Chelsea Bailey, Kentlake, 57.27.

100 breast — 1, Maria Volodkevich, Skyline, 1:04.25; 2, Heather Harper, Redmond, 1:04.27; 3, Jordan Hanna, Garfield, 1:04.96; 4, Maddy Morgan, Garfield, 1:05.06.

400 free relay — 1, Skyline (Nina Zook, Meghan O'Keefe, Maria Volodkevich, Andie Taylor), 3:33.85; 2, Garfield (Maddy Morgan, Louisa Dunwiddie, Jordan Hanna, Fiona Majeau), 3:36.93; 3, Issaquah (Stacy Maier, Molly Herman, Helen Liu, Kayla Flaten), 3:37.40; 4, Shorewood (Annika Stenfjord, Anni Hecker, Laurin Williams, Dana Michaels), 3:38.19.

Class 3A state meet

At King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way

Team scores — 1, Mercer Island 246.5; 2, Juanita 242; 3, Kennedy 204; 4, Bellevue 171; 5, Hanford 140; 6, Mount Rainier 128; 7, Bainbridge 123; 8, Union 120; 9, Holy Names 108; 10, Sumner 102; 11, Shorecrest 86; 12, Liberty (Issaquah) 83; Glacier Peak 78; 14, Hudson's Bay 72; 15, Peninsula 69; 16, Columbia River 62; 17, West Valley (Yakima) 50; 18, Hazen 42; 19, North Thurston 32; 20, Ingraham 25; 21, Sammamish 24; 22, Seattle Prep 22.5; 23, Capital 17; 24, Bonney Lake 15; 25, North Kitsap 11; 25, Lakeside (Seattle) 11; 27, Mount Vernon 8; 27, Sunnyside 8; 29, Prairie 5; 29, Meadowdale 5, 31, Ferndale 4, Port Angeles 4; 31, Enumclaw 4; 34, Camas 1.

FINALS

200 medley relay — 1, Mercer Island (Grace Wold, Lauren Poli, Madeleine Chandless, Stephanie Hammond) 1:50.11; 2, Mount Rainier (Courtney Larson, Mackenzie Marrs, Molly Larson, Sonny Dorhofer) 1:52.07; 3, Kennedy (Emily Fenster, Kellie Langan, Gabby Lindblad, Mariah Crockett) 1:53.57; 4, Hanford (Melissa Merrill, Christine Tixier, Stephanie Tixier, Taylor Burnight) 1:53.78.

200 free — 1, Emily Fenster, Kennedy, 1:52.05; 2, Kelly Tannhauser, Juanita, 1:53.08; 3, Jennifer Pak, Mercer Island, 1:54.69; 4, Nicole Lecoq, Liberty, 1:56.39.

200 IM — 1, Jessica Bottelberghe, Columbia River, 2:07.52; 2, Grace Wold, Mercer Island, 2:09.32; 3, Casey Penrose, Peninsula, 2:09.49; 4, Rachael Kurtz, Juanita, 2:09.76.

50 free — 1, Emilie Kaufman, Juanita, 23.96; 2, Lauren Kaufman, Hazen, 24.25; 3, Nikki Cannon, Hudson's Bay-US, 24.51; 4, Andrea Young, Union, 24.56.

Diving — 1, Celia Pinczower, Juanita, 394.10; 2, Ashley Knox, Kennedy, 368.60; 3, Paige Greely, Kennedy, 348.20; 4, Kelsi Potterf, Bonney Lake, 347.80.

100 fly — 1, Jessica Bottelberghe, Columbia River, 56.49; 2, Gabby Lindblad, Kennedy, 57.91; 3, Erin Maclean, Bellevue, 59.09; 4, Rachael Kurtz, Juanita, 59.24.

100 free — 1, Lauren Kaufman, Hazen, 52.60; 2, Jennifer Pak, Mercer Island, 53.32; 3, Taylor Ditty, Sumner, 53.88; 4, Andrea Young, Union, 53.96.

500 free — 1, Kelly Tannhauser, Juanita, 5:01.59; 2, Kristen Bennett, Hanford, 5:05.53; 3, Rachel Schneider, Bellevue, 5:07.58; 4, Sarah Grundman, Bainbridge, 5:09.27.

200 free relay — 1, Juanita (Emilie Kaufman, Amanda Wilson, Rachael Kurtz, Kelly Tannhauser) 1:37.77; 2, Hanford (Melissa Merrill, Stephanie Tixier, Taylor Burnight, Christine Tixier) 1:39.07; 3, Mercer Island (Stephanie Hammond, Lauren Poli, Christina Williamson, Jennifer Pak) 1:41.70; 4, Union (Felicia Williamson, Katie Odiorne, McKenna Spieth, Andrea Young) 1:42.34.

100 back — 1, Nikki Cannon, Hudson's Bay-US, 57.08; 2, Emily Fenster, Kennedy, 57.96; 3, Grace Wold, Mercer Island, 58.27; 4, Olivia Kosaka, Holy Names, 58.56.

100 breast — 1, Emilie Kaufman, Juanita, 1:03.21; 2, Molly Larson, Mount Rainier, 1:05.99; 3, Lauren Poli, Mercer Island, 1:06.20; 4, Danielle Deiparine, Mercer Island, 1:08.71.

400 free relay — 1, Juanita (Emilie Kaufman, Hanna Armstrong, Rachael Kurtz, Kelly Tannhauser) 3:35.35; 2, Kennedy (Gabby Lindblad, Audrey Griggs, Annie Benoit, Emily Fenster) 3:38.45; 3, Mercer Island (Kira Godfred, Jennifer Pak, Madeleine Chandless, Grace Wold) 3:40.59; 4, Mount Rainier (Sonny Dorhofer, Courtney Larson, Mackenzie Marrs, Molly Larson) 3:40.92.

Class 2A state meet

At King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way

Team scores — 1, Squalicum 77; 2, Sehome 68; 3, Hockinson 59; 4, Anacortes 58; 5, Archbishop Murphy 57; 6, Aberdeen 53; 7, River Ridge 38; 8, Prosser 26; 9, Tumwater 21; 10, Centralia 17; 10, Fife 17; 12, Interlake 14; 13, Wapato 12; 14, North Mason 11; 15, Clarkston 7; 16, Port Townsend 5; 17, East Valley (Yakima) 4; 18, W.F. West 3; 18, Pullman 3; 20, Mark Morris 1; 20, La Conner 1.

FINALS

200 medley relay — 1, Hockinson (Bailee Christenson, Kyra Oja, Julia Sanders, Darien Hiller), 1:54.87; 2, Squalicum (Carlee Bock, Camorah King, Rylie Martin, Leah Strickling), 1:56.93; 3, Anacortes (Hannah Brennan, Katie Kaestner, Jenna Whitney, Emily Akland), 2:00.32; 4, Prosser (Hanna Rankin, Hailey Rankin, Mackenzie Gant, McKenna Musselwhite) 2:00.64.

200 free — 1, Abby Sullivan, Tumwater, 1:59.24; 2, Abigail Messegee, Centralia, 1:59.38; 3, Rylie Martin, Squalicum, 2:02.16; 4, Megan McGuire, Sehome, 2:03.38.

200 IM — 1, Julia Sanders, Hockinson, 2:11.38; 2, Amy Renslo, Archbishop Murphy, 2:17.33; 3, Magdelene May, Aberdeen, 2:17.58; 4, Hailey Rankin, Prosser, 2:20.23.

50 free — 1, Ali Fisher, Sehome, 25.09; 2, Sarah Bettag, Archbishop Murphy, 25.34; 3, Bethany Imperial, Wapato, 25.36; 4, Kimberly Wascher, North Mason, 25.63.

Diving — 1, Mallorie Estenson, Anacortes, 300.90;2, Asha Srivastava, River Ridge, 262.85; 3, Rosalie Corrigan, Archbishop Murphy, 261.30; 4, Tori Franzen, Squalicum, 243.70.

100 fly — 1, Julia Sanders, Hockinson, 56.88; 2, Amy Renslo, Archbishop Murphy, 1:01.15; 3, Magdelene May, Aberdeen, 1:01.98; 4, Mackenzie Gant, Prosser, 1:02.20.

100 free — 1, Katie Kaestner, Anacortes, 53.41; 2, Ali Fisher, Sehome, 54.54; 3, Carlee Bock, Squalicum, 54.68; 4, Shanell Sullenberger, River Ridge, 55.17.

500 free — 1, Abigail Messegee, Centralia, 5:21.38; 2, Rylie Martin, Squalicum, 5:26.73; 3, Megan McGuire, Sehome, 5:34.97; 4, Bailee Christenson, Hockinson, 5:38.52.

200 free relay — 1, Hockinson (Darien Hiller, Bailee Christenson, Kyra Oja, Julia Sanders), 1:42.97; 2, Sehome (Michelle Lam, Anastasia Miksovsky, Megan McGuire, Ali Fisher), 1:43.69; 3, Aberdeen (Raea Hillenbrant, Cierra Housden, Samantha May, Taylor Sundstrom), 1:45.06; 4, Anacortes (Jenna Whitney, Emily Akland, Hannah Brennan, Katie Kaestner), 1:46.20.

100 back — 1, Carlee Bock, Squalicum, 1:01.16; 2, Savannah Davison, Aberdeen, 1:01.25; 3, Kimberly Wascher, North Mason, 1:02.02; 4, Michelle Lam, Sehome, 1:03.81.

100 breast — 1, Katie Kaestner, Anacortes, 1:06.27; 2, Kiana Sullenberger, River Ridge, 1:07.37; 3, Shanell Sullenberger, River Ridge, 1:07.91; 4, Camorah King, Squalicum, 1:09.23.

400 free relay — 1, Sehome (Michelle Lam, Anastasia Miksovsky, Megan McGuire, Ali Fisher), 3:47.86; 2, Squalicum (Rylie Martin, Marissa Abbott, Camorah King, Carlee Bock), 3:49.52; 3, Aberdeen (Raea Hillenbrant, Cierra Housden, Savannah Davison, Magdelene May), 3:52.29; 4, Archbishop Murphy (Amy Renslo, Claire McCloskey, Anna Maher, Sarah Bettag), 3:52.31.