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Workouts, tips, tricks for Waikiki rough water swim?

olegmeister
over 2 years ago

Just like it says...

I'm swimming this race for the first time and I'm looking for some advice. Can I ask:

1. How did you train?

2. What worked for you?

3. What do you wish you hadn't done / didn't happen in your previous swim?

Thanks yall!

  • over 2 years ago
    I haven’t done the Waikiki swim, but I have done a few very ‘rough’ open water swims of this distance, and longer.  As such, I don’t really know what they mean when they say “rough” in the name of this event. You didn’t specifically mention it in your OP, but if you’re not accustom to swimming in rough water…and if this swim does happen to be known for having rough swimming conditions…I would suggest you start getting into some rougher water. As you’re well aware, even small chop in the water conditions can make navigation/sighting difficult. In my rougher swims, I had a kayak escort who was able to guide me to buoys. And thankfully so because they were small fields where swimmers got spread out over hundreds of yards from one another. According to the FAQs for the Waikiki swim, apparently you’ll be in a starting group of 150-200 swimmers, with kayaks and surfboards ‘guiding’ you to the buoys. So, you’ll be able to rely on them (and other swimmers) to a great extent. Anyway, since you’re apparently an experienced open water swimmer…I think just adding a rough water element to your training would be sufficient…especially in what would be the second half of your training swims. Good luck.
     
    Dan
  • over 2 years ago in reply to ForceDJ

    Solid advice. Thanks, Dan. I'll get into some choppier afternoon swims here on the pacific and we have a lake swim in August that gets choppy in the 2nd half. And I'll practice my sighting technique too.

  • over 2 years ago

    It's been awhile since I've swum the roughwater but I have completed a few.

    1.  You may encounter running into the current, be prepared to forge forward with no stopping or letting up!

    2.  You may encounter swells that create troughs where it is difficult to spot where you are at.

    3.  If it's a calm day enjoy the beauty that is below you.

    4.  Study the map.   There are large inflatable bouys at the turns and numbered marker buoys in between.  You see that you are parallel to shore but it curves and if the current is with  you you don't want to follow that curve.  The church with the pointy a-frame roof is about half way.

    5.  If the current is with you, be ready at the turn in to the finish to stay on course and not get carried over the reef and tossed in the surf to swimmer's left, ask me how I know!

    6. There's some reef/rocks just before the finish that you'll need to skim over.

    have fun and report back...

  • over 2 years ago

    When is this swim?

    Not too experienced OW swims but do enjoy choppy, turbulent, and swell plagued tropical swimming.  Good to increase tempo and widen hand entry as it gets more rough. Sometimes the waves will have a rhythm, good to time strokes and practice sighting at crest of the waves. Not sure what area this will be, but I am referring to the hotel area: I recall Waikiki typical has a mild chop however good sized random outrigger swells every minute or so happen.  You will know when these arrive as long as you can see the bottom (little turbid in that area I recall) as the pull you for a time towards them.  
    Dang, that sounds fun man.  Wish I was there 

    Good luck