I've been away from the forums for a while, but I haven't been away from swimming...until recently, that is.
A few weeks ago I started having issues with my neck (herniated disc - degenerative disc disease - wah) and it affects my ability to look right and left. I can swim fly and *** with no problem, but I can't swim free without turning my whole body as a unit to breathe and I can't swim back without doing the same. It's kind of a drag.
This may get better in time or it may not. While I wait to find out if this is just an "episode" or the beginning of a major issue, I'd like to use one of those finis snorkels so I can do some free without the agony of turning my head.
Anyone ever used one of these swimming snorkels and want to weigh in on whether the "freestyle" model (with an angled pipe) or the regular straight model is the better way to go?
What about the cap feature that keeps the tube from filling with water when submerged. Worth the money?
Thanks, Forum!
I was getting the hang of it by the end of practice, but I think to master the clipless snorkel thing, one has to learn young.
I do not think of 40 as young (or old, either), and that's when I got and mastered mine. I had to use it regularly for a few weeks before I really felt at ease with it. Do not give up too fast. BTW, I tried using the snorkel with a nose clip and found that I wound up with more water in my nose that way, not less.
I borrowed my coach's snorkel today and gave it a try (sans noseclip) and your words of wisdom were mocking me the whole time
nose full of water
snorkel shifting sideways after turn
incomplete "clearing blasts" resulting in comical choking and gasping
I was getting the hang of it by the end of practice, but I think to master the clipless snorkel thing, one has to learn young.
A rare case of YMDV (your mileage didn't vary)...
Don't give up on clipless snorkeling so soon
Ok OK! I'll give it a few more tries. I bought a nose clip a couple of years ago bec. I wanted to use it on my back sdk, but I couldn't actually swim with it, so we shall see how it goes with the snorkel.
Again, thanks everyone for the advice. If anyone else wants to share some info & tips, feel free!
... nose full of water
snorkel shifting sideways after turn
incomplete "clearing blasts" resulting in comical choking and gasping
I was getting the hang of it by the end of practice, but I think to master the clipless snorkel thing, one has to learn young.
I got one a few years ago and at first all of the above was happening. I HATED THE :censor: THING!!!
But I stuck with it and eventually became used to it and am actually doing some fast swimming with it.
BTW I'm 60 and I don't use a nose clip.
Don't give up on clipless snorkeling so soon
Luckily (as it turns out) I couldn't find my nose-clip anywhere I looked so I was pretty much forced to go without and sure enough, I got the hang of it. The trick seems to be to exhale through the nose. I've been out of the water bec. I was borrowing my coach's snorkel and she's gone away with her college team for a few weeks. I ordered my own but unfortunately it took WEEKS for my snorkel to arrive and now that it's here I'm going to give it a try tomorrow at the Y.
Hope all goes well - I ordered the freestyle model and I "learned" on a regular... I hope they're not too different
Thanks everyone!
gigi
