After a childhood spent in the pool, Kary Reinke is helping build them now

The transition from synchronized swimming to diving may seem natural to most people, but for Kary Reinke, it’s a slightly different kind of diving than you’d expect.

Years after nearly qualifying for the Olympics as a member of the U.S. synchronized swimming team, Reinke is working alongside her father, Lynn, at Ad-Tech Pools in Estacada (also now known as Pacific NW Pools), and her new water activity includes building and renovating pools.

Ad-Tech Pools has been around since 1993 in Portland. The company was started after Lynn had spent time working for just about every pool company in Portland and decided to step out on his own.

In 2006, Kary joined the ranks and helped in just about every capacity possible, including as a diver.

“A lot of people don’t have the money to re-plaster their entire pool, drain it and then refill it,” she said. “So I can dive down there to save them money.”

The process begins as Kary chips away at blisters in the plaster before going back down with underwater cement that she applies over the spot. In doing so, the new spot is expected to last just as long as the rest of the pool’s existing plaster.

Now, six years later, the duo has decided to help take the company in a new direction — pool building.

Under a new name, Pacific NW Pools, the company won’t only renovate your pool, it will help you design, build and maintain it.

The first priority, however, was to develop a showcase pool in Lynn’s house in Estacada. The pool, complete with LED lights, swimming current, spa, underwater speakers and more, shows just how much they can offer.

“We’re general contractors as well, so we can do work on the pool house too,” Kary said. “There’s not a lot of competition for what we do.”

For Kary, the underwater speakers were a must because of her days as a synchronized swimmer while growing up in the West Linn area. In fact, her father still recalls the first day he heard about her interest.

“Oregon City had a team, and she told me she wanted to join, but I told her, ‘No’ because she didn’t know how to swim,” he said.

Despite that minor detail, Kary tried out for the team at age 12 and continued the hobby all the way until age 35.

“It took a long time to learn,” she said. “They basically do acrobatics under water, and I’ve heard it described like running hurdles or jumping without taking a breath.”

After winning the state championship in high school, Kary was asked to move to Washington so she could train with the U.S. national team. After thinking about it, however, she declined for fear of leaving home.

“I definitely regret it, but I was just too shy at the time,” she said. “I think there was a decent chance I would have made the team, though.”

After graduating from West Linn High School in 1984, Kary went on to manage a sign company before joining up with her dad.

“I just love going out and helping people,” she said. “A lot of times, our customers become our friends and I end up hanging out with them on Friday night. It’s always fun when you renovate a pool because they’re always so thrilled and happy.”

For more information on Pacific NW Pools, visit pacificnorthwestpools.com.