Open Water Swimming

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 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.