Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

swimshark — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:49:39 GMT

To have a relaxed loose jaw does not mean you have to swallow water. I just tried it sitting here at the computer and my jaw was loose but my lips were not even open. I know that when I did swim backstroke I could have my mouth open and did not swallow water. Relaxed jaw is the secret. I'll try it again. Thanks.

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Former Member — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:52:20 GMT

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Former Member — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:41:36 GMT

I tried this "lower jaw hanging loose" thing in practice the other day. How do you do it without getting water in your mouth? Try swimming backstroke on your back. That way air gets in your mouth and the water is behind your head.

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

swimshark — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 11:33:39 GMT

Chris one of the old East German coaches always told backstoke swimmers to let their lower jaw hang loose. I tried this "lower jaw hanging loose" thing in practice the other day. How do you do it without getting water in your mouth? Oh.. and still waiting for my Swimmer Mag. Mine always comes late.

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Former Member — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:32:10 GMT

Interesting observation. I'm going to help out at a swim clinic in a few weeks (coaching backstroke); I'll watch out for this. Chris one of the old East German coaches always told backstoke swimmers to let their lower jaw hang loose.

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Former Member — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:27:39 GMT

Well...he may spin his wheels -- I haven't seen his backstroke so I can't say -- but his backstroke times certainly indicate he gets somewhere pretty fast. :) When I made that comment, I thought that he said he had to work backstroke really hard to go fast in another thread. Of course, he was talking about his 200 free... I am aware that Jeff's "slow" strokes are only slow relative to his fast stroke, and even then... :)

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Chris Stevenson — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:42:48 GMT

you just spin your wheels and go no where? Well...he may spin his wheels -- I haven't seen his backstroke so I can't say -- but his backstroke times certainly indicate he gets somewhere pretty fast. :)

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Former Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:41:38 GMT

I finally read the article last night, instead of just looking at the pictures. Chris, you don't actually swim freestyle, you swim an alternating split arm butterfly. Very interesting stuff. I would love to have your natural ankle flexibility.

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Former Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:49:50 GMT

Putting Chris and I in lanes next to each other in a 100 back would show you the extreme range of stroke rate in backstroke. Are you saying that your breaststroke turnover is faster than you backstroke turnover, or you just spin your wheels and go no where?

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Jeff Commings — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 06:56:28 GMT

Not everyone rotates so much, including some extremely fast backstrokers. There is a trade-off between rotation (ie DPS) and turnover. My coach likes to say I have a 200-back kind of stroke, even when I sprint. Putting Chris and I in lanes next to each other in a 100 back would show you the extreme range of stroke rate in backstroke.

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Former Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:53:45 GMT

I watched the backstroke video and saw that he was not clenching his teeth together. The common backstroke error of some backstrokers is they clench their teeth together tightly. Chris looked great, the underwater work was good and superb turns.

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Former Member — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:14:25 GMT

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

__steve__ — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:38:08 GMT

After seeing the videos it really put's things in perspective of how slow I really am and how much there is to learn. It is an honor to even be able to post on this thread.

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Chris Stevenson — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:34:33 GMT

I went back last nigth and reviewed the backstroke issue that had Chris. I realized from looking at the photos, I definitly need to rotate more. Those underwater shots are great for realizing the things one needs to improve upon. Not everyone rotates so much, including some extremely fast backstrokers. There is a trade-off between rotation (ie DPS) and turnover. My coach likes to say I have a 200-back kind of stroke, even when I sprint. The common backstroke error of some backstrokers is they clench their teeth together tightly. Interesting observation. I'm going to help out at a swim clinic in a few weeks (coaching backstroke); I'll watch out for this.

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

aquaFeisty — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:19:27 GMT

I just like looking at the pictures of his ankles... which can achieve the same divergence from 180 degrees in extension that mine can achieve in flexion... :)

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

swimshark — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:43:40 GMT

I haven't gotten my Swimmer Mag yet but I have had the pleasure of seeing Chris in person. His swimming, whether on front or back, is amazing. Here is his 200 back, World Record SCM swim from 2007! I was watching this swim while sitting in front of his parents and cheering him on. YouTube - Chris Stevenson 200 Back SCM Masters WR

RE: Swimmer Mag + Chris Stevenson

Chris Stevenson — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:41:15 GMT

I'm flattered, George; thank you. It isn't as pretty as Phelps' stroke, that's for sure. Many coaches tried to fix that stroke when I was a wee lad. It isn't a very good stroke for sprinting (though I could do okay on relays when I was younger). I don't have more still photos. Well, I do have some extras from that photo shoot but they technically don't belong to me so I can't really display them. Floswimming was at nationals last spring and captured my 500 free, to see something other than stills (though no underwater shots): www.floswimming.org/.../178358 Just stop viewing it around the 400 mark.:)