Sometimes I see slow lap swimmers turn around quite a distance before they reach the end of the pool so that they can always continue without stop ahead of whoever has been waiting at the end to start. So the picture is like this: as they approach the end, see someone is about to start, right away they make a U-turn and swim back. Since they are slow (a faster swimmer should hardly cause any inconvenience), the person waiting would eventually catch up and have to pass him/her. So their turning around in the middle really does nothing but causing inconvenience for both others and themselves, and unnecessary potential for accidents. What do you think and what would you do in such cases?
Former Member
I hate it when at a public swim someone who is resting at the wall pushes off as I approach the wall for a turn. If I can, I pass them underneath with a long deep streamline.
Perhaps I didn't understand the problem.
Are you one of those people that turn around instead of finishing at the wall?
I have. There are many people much faster than me. I can hang for a 1000 yard set at 1:10. That's pretty much my limit. When my mates go to 1:05 I usually bounce down a lane, however, sometimes they chide me into staying. I make sure to stay out of their way. I will slide over a lane to let them pass or, heaven forbid, turn in the middle of the lane.
I stay out of their way. I always defer to speed.
My understanding was that the issue was someone not completing the entire lap of the pool. When I swim with slower people I am very appreciative that they get out of my way. That is good etiquette
I don't think it's necessarily bad etiquette because if you're standing at the wall they probably don't know when you plan to push off. They may actually be trying to get out of your way. One thing to keep in mind is that swimmers who only do continuous laps might not really understand that you are doing interval training. It's possible they just think you like to stop periodically. Perhaps if you explained to them exactly what you are doing they would cease and desist.
Let's face it, someone swimming continuously is virtually guaranteed to be in your way at times if you are doing intervals. I think it's really your responsibility to avoid them. That might mean you have to leave five seconds early or five seconds late sometimes, but it seems to me a swimmer who is swimming always has the right of way over someone resting at the wall.
I have to disagree with Kirk on this one. People who do this know exactly what they are doing and are trying to either hold a lane to themselves or be a general pain. The telltale sign is if you don't see them doing this whenever there aren't folks waiting.
Nothing is worse than a lane hog, jump in and swim.
Thanks, the consensus seems to be this is bad etiquette. orca1946: this is public open swimming in 25 yard pool. Btw I did make clear that this concerns only slow swimmers.
How are they getting out of the way when they are slower and are basically forcing you to pass or sit and tap their heels the entire length?
That's exactly what I was thinking. They know you are faster, but they still want to be ahead of you, inevitably forcing you to pass them (not good if it's crowded). When you finally reach the other end and are going to swim back, there they are, still yet to come, but a U-turn makes them ahead of you again!
Besides, if this is not discouraged, then anyone can turn around anywhere in the pool--imagine that! :cool:
(I find a fast swimmer doing this much more tolerable, sometimes maybe even good for everyone involved, although a U-turn in the middle always has the potential for accidents.)
I've seen faster swimmers do this, when slower swimmers won't let them pass (I've even done it myself). Nevertheless, I agree with Aquageek. It's not just bad etiquette, it's unsafe. At my pool it's against the posted rules to turn anywhere but at the end of the lane -- if the lifeguards see it, swimmers who do this will first be gently reminded of the rule and then asked to leave if they persist.
