I learned how to swim freestyle two summers ago and I love it! I'd appreciate any swimming tips and feedback. I'd like to improve my form with the aim of swimming faster triathlon distances (1.5 - 4 km). The video below is grainy and watermarked but I'm hoping there's enough there to give a general gist of my current stroke.
http://youtu.be/H4_a263ytBw
Thanks!
Parents
Former Member
I'm a total noob, but I'll contribute with a couple of ideas...
you only breathe to one side every other stroke... in the pool you're breathing to the right, in the OWS you're breathing to the left... if you're proficient on both sides, I personally would recommend switching it up if you can. I'll never forget a rough Oly distance tri I did in 2009, the swim was freezing and very choppy (Lobsterman in Maine) and failing to breathe bilaterally left me with a nasty giant blister on the right side of my neck from my wetsuit. Also, since learning to breathe bilaterally every 3rd stroke, for me, I notice I am more "balanced" and feel like I swim straighter easier. you will be oxygen deficient in the beginning to take it slow, and practice holding your breath by slapping on some fins and swimming a length entirely under water. just a suggestion.
Also, are you familiar with the two beat kick for triathlon swimming? It's something I practice in OWS but not necessarily in the pool - the idea is that it saves your legs for the bike/run:
Freestyle two-beat kick - YouTube
I'm a total noob, but I'll contribute with a couple of ideas...
you only breathe to one side every other stroke... in the pool you're breathing to the right, in the OWS you're breathing to the left... if you're proficient on both sides, I personally would recommend switching it up if you can. I'll never forget a rough Oly distance tri I did in 2009, the swim was freezing and very choppy (Lobsterman in Maine) and failing to breathe bilaterally left me with a nasty giant blister on the right side of my neck from my wetsuit. Also, since learning to breathe bilaterally every 3rd stroke, for me, I notice I am more "balanced" and feel like I swim straighter easier. you will be oxygen deficient in the beginning to take it slow, and practice holding your breath by slapping on some fins and swimming a length entirely under water. just a suggestion.
Also, are you familiar with the two beat kick for triathlon swimming? It's something I practice in OWS but not necessarily in the pool - the idea is that it saves your legs for the bike/run:
Freestyle two-beat kick - YouTube
