I will be turning 50 this year, and in celebration of this I would like to start doing open water swims. Never done any real swimming except in a pool and was wondering how to get started. Do you just pick an event and show up and hope for the best in such a foreign environment or are there ways to train or are there any clinics to attend specializing in open water. I am in Northern California but would love an excuse to travel some place for a clinic. Thanks. Paul
Parents
Former Member
I'd suggest talking to some others who know the different ocean events in a region first & see if there is an easier one that you can do first to enable you to get used to the different environment.......(the washing machine effect at the start if you are not able to out sprint the rest, feeling of a wetsuit, water temperatures, waves blocking your vision...)
I'm not sure whether you guys wear wetsuits in that part of the country, but if they do, you'd definately benefit from practising in one.
I get my swimmers to practice a small amount of 'face up' swimming or Polo swim some refer to it as.
If you can get into the OW to practice the navigation that would also be helpful.
Make sure you can breathe on either side because some OW events will call for breathing one particular side to avoid the waves!
I have introduced about 20 people to OW events in the past 5 years & they are all hooked! :wiggle:
It certainly gave my swimming 'career' a whole new realm that has kept me in the water for a lot longer......like you stated it gives me reason to travel, & of course there is all those 'debriefings' that have to happen over a coffee or pub meal! :bouncing:
I'd suggest talking to some others who know the different ocean events in a region first & see if there is an easier one that you can do first to enable you to get used to the different environment.......(the washing machine effect at the start if you are not able to out sprint the rest, feeling of a wetsuit, water temperatures, waves blocking your vision...)
I'm not sure whether you guys wear wetsuits in that part of the country, but if they do, you'd definately benefit from practising in one.
I get my swimmers to practice a small amount of 'face up' swimming or Polo swim some refer to it as.
If you can get into the OW to practice the navigation that would also be helpful.
Make sure you can breathe on either side because some OW events will call for breathing one particular side to avoid the waves!
I have introduced about 20 people to OW events in the past 5 years & they are all hooked! :wiggle:
It certainly gave my swimming 'career' a whole new realm that has kept me in the water for a lot longer......like you stated it gives me reason to travel, & of course there is all those 'debriefings' that have to happen over a coffee or pub meal! :bouncing:
