I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE/HELP WITH SWIMMING STRATEGY! WHAT IS THE BEST TO SWIM A RACE PARALLEL TO THE SHORE? GO OUT AND BEYOND THE WAVES OR USE THEM TO HELP BOUY ME ALONG AND FIGHT THEM AS WELL? tHANKS ANYONE! GINA
Former Member
First thing is think of your safety. I have seen people who swim out one hour then swim back. I think they are nuts.
If you are swimming ALONE swim close to shore.
I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE/HELP WITH SWIMMING STRATEGY! WHAT IS THE BEST TO SWIM A RACE PARALLEL TO THE SHORE? GO OUT AND BEYOND THE WAVES OR USE THEM TO HELP BOUY ME ALONG AND FIGHT THEM AS WELL? tHANKS ANYONE! GINA
It probably depends on how far you have to go out to get clear water. If the buoys are close to shore, probably best to stay near shore and if you can breathe toward the shore and away from breaking waves you will be able to breathe better and sight better.
As for safety when practicing, two is always better than one. Near the shore there may be less boats. I don't see a lot of other advantage near the shore otherwise (except for the fact that your dead corpse may be more readily washed to shore).
Gina, if you are asking about race strategy, I suggest you swim where the current is fastest and where you are comfortable with the conditions. And pay attention to what the local experts are doing.
If you are talking about training swims to prepare for a race, train in conditions that will approximate race conditions.
If you are talking about general training swims, then train is as many varied conditions as possible so you can get comfortable with whatever you run into. First get comfortable swimming with the waves and currents and then move onto the more challenging into the waves and chop and across the breakers. Always work to maintain a smooth stroke. And never swim alone.
I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE/HELP WITH SWIMMING STRATEGY! WHAT IS THE BEST TO SWIM A RACE PARALLEL TO THE SHORE? GO OUT AND BEYOND THE WAVES OR USE THEM TO HELP BOUY ME ALONG AND FIGHT THEM AS WELL? tHANKS ANYONE! GINA
Gina - For training, I recommend swimming parallel to a shore. Inside protected waters (bay, lake, etc) when there are really large wind driven waves it doesn't matter how far out you go, it is still uncomfortable. For general purpose training, try to get into the water early before the wind churns up the water. If the wind is blowing "offshore" away from the beach, you won't get much wave action in close unless you are swimming from a beach facing the open ocean where surf is mainly the result of ocean swells created by big storms many miles away. Finally make sure you are visable (a bright colored cap works wonders), and going solo adds risk and distractions.
I swim alone most of the time,..it`s kind of a one on one thing,..me and the Ocean. Yes, I understand the dangers.
How many of you are able to rescue your swimming partner should they get in trouble and panic?
i always recommend swimming with someone else.
even when you are close to shore, you can't always be seen easily.
remember that in some waters, if you are beyond the breakers near the boats then you may be cited. it's at least that way on the beaches in NC where i live.
When you have two experienced swimmer in open water it would not be a rescue like it would be if you were a lifeguard. You would not be rescueing a struggling victim. You would be assisting someone who has experience in the water or you have picked the wrong buddy to swim with.
George raises a good point. If you have some flailing guy next to you, then you stay away from him because he will bring you down (reminds me of when I tried to teach a 300 lb. Down's kid how to swim--thought I was a goner). Which raises the point of the purpose of a buddy while swimming (who needs a buddy when a 300 lb good natured Down's child has you in a death grip as you sink peacefully to the bottom of the pool--ah sweet memories).
I usually swim alone in the open water but feel more comfortable with somebody else in the vicinity. I guess the only benefit a good swimmer has in a buddy is in the unlikely event that the last open micron of a mostly occluded carotid or left anterior descending artery closes off just when one is furthest from shore hurling that person into unconsciousness and the bottom of the lake.:drown::drown:
i try to swim near the longboarders...they are furthest outside and if i get in trouble i will just crawl onto their longboard, there is plenty of room for me
every course is different. to truly know where the most advantageous currents are you must swim the course.
for training in ow, i like nothing better than swimming right next to someone stroke for stroke (the time passes quickly and you can really challenge each other)
