I do not know if this expression (float dead) it is well undertood in English, and may be the fact that I can not "float dead" is kind of ridiculous for some of you (for me too), but even when I have been master swimming for over 13 years now (practicing 6 days a week), and I have participated in many open water meets in my life, and some of them I have wan at my edge group (35-39).... even so I still can not play as float dead (face up) with my body, neither in a pool or on the sea.
I can do it with a pull buoy in my ancles but with out it, my feet just sink.
My both children can float dead easily since they were little (4 years old) and I show them how to do it, but I can´t, is it not funny?
Anyone have a tip?:confused:
Some people just cannot. I cannot, even when I weighed 30 pounds more than now. It takes about 10 seconds for my feet to sink, unless I kick them. My kids are the same way, they don't float. Someone told me it is due to dense bones, I have no idea if that is true, just know I can't float.
A few years ago, the Master's coach decided to see who were sinkers and who were floaters in the group. About half of us sank, but it was not dependant on bodyfat.
I have seen flat floaters angle floaters and sinkers. Most of us angle float. My brother floated at a depth of 7 feet. I float flat on the surface. Even when I was skinny I floated easy.
I had one person who wanted to learn to swim because he fell out of a boat on the grand river, went to the bottom and walked out. I put floats on him and still went to the bottom. I told him don't go near the water.
George
I think it has a lot to do with body mass. If you have more muscle I think you tend to sink more. Fat actually floats better. Also the more tense you are the more tendency you will have to sink.
Kill yourself? J/K!
Don't feel bad, I have a hard time floating for any length of time as well. I think my problem is lack of body fat. At 6-0 165 I have very little fat to keep me afloat.
Think of your lungs as your center of buoyancy. Try to balance your weight on either side of your lungs. As Karen said, hold your breath and press on your chest, then raise your arms over your head to put more weight on the top half to counteract the weight of your legs. A lot of people who think they can't float just aren't balancing right. I suppose there are people who don't have the lung capacity to support the weight of a lot of muscle.
But some people it just does not work. I understand the balance thing, have played around with it, worked on it, had coaches work on it, and I sink. My kids are built very lean and muscular, and they are the same way. I think it has a lot to do with body composition. It does not prevent me from swimming, and I can get my legs to the surface with a gentle kick, but I cannot do a dead mans float. My legs sink within 10 secs. Even on my back, they sink and fast. I have played around with my daughters balance in the water, and it is the same thing. One coaches theory was dense bones. At my age.....I hope so, women need dense bones!
Alejandro,
it's simple physics,
your body is heavier than the amount of water it displaces
so you SINK,
there are no quick tips or techiniques to change that
other than breathe in as much air as you can and hold it while you attempt to float.
If you really want to be able to float
you need to gain FAT and or lose muscle.
if you really want to do this
1) stop working out,
2) increase what you eat,
3) lose muscle
4) gain fat
5) as you lose muscle and gain fat and weight,
test your floating ability at some point
you'll float like a champ.
ande
Originally posted by Alex
I do not know if this expression (float dead) it is well undertood in English, and may be the fact that I can not "float dead" is kind of ridiculous for some of you (for me too), but even when I have been master swimming for over 13 years now (practicing 6 days a week), and I have participated in many open water meets in my life, and some of them I have wan at my edge group (35-39).... even so I still can not play as float dead (face up) with my body, neither in a pool or on the sea.
I can do it with a pull buoy in my ankles but with out it, my feet just sink.
My both children can float dead easily since they were little (4 years old) and I show them how to do it, but I can´t, is it not funny?
Anyone have a tip?:confused:
My husband's lungs are huge too. At least a full liter larger than men his size! No wonder he has such great pulldowns and won't get off the phone! Oh, did I say that out loud :p
I think that almost anyone can float. I knew a guy who were being "supported" by anohtjer person's one finger. Then when the finger was removed, the guy wudl sink. I think a lot has to do with how your arms & legs are positioned. I can float completely at the surface with out problems. I can float underwater if I bend my knees. I used to know a guy who could eat while he was floating.
