Diving Into the Open Water
Open water swimming has become a boom sport in my part of the world over the recent years. Melbourne alone has 26 weekly training sessions, most of them free, dedicated to open water swimming, so there is no better time to get involved. The following is some advice that I can offer to help you make that transition from pool to open water as smoothly as possible.
1. Swim with others
Not just for safety, swimming with a group will challenge you to swim further and in more difficult conditions than you would when you’re alone. Your first open water swim may be a little scary, so don’t feel defeated. This is why it’s a great idea to find a group to swim with who will help you get over any initial fear.
2. Check the weather report
Depending on where you’re planning to swim, it is worth checking if there is going to be any change in weather. Sudden changes could cause a major change in water conditions. As well, try to get some idea of the area you will be swimming in and how rips or currents affect the water.
3. Wear appropriate gear
Make sure the gear you’re wearing is appropriate for the outdoor environment you’re swimming in. Winter swimming may call for, not only a wetsuit, but gloves, neoprene cap and boots. If you need glasses, it may be worth getting a pair of prescription goggles to make sure you can see markers in the distance. Swimming wetsuits and surfing wetsuits are different in the way they move and help you in the water, so it is worth spending a little bit of time to work out if it’s also worthwhile spending money to get a proper swimming wetsuit.
4. You still need to warm up
Even though you don’t have any lane ropes, you still need to warm up. Just by spending five minutes at an easy pace, you can get use to the conditions, including any waves, currents and water temperature. This becomes even more important if you decide to swim an open water race as a proper warm up will get you ready for the main event.
5. Sight regularly
Always remember to sight regularly as it’s easy to find yourself traveling off course. Bilateral breathing will help if you have any imbalance that can send you off course. Try to use a landmark in the distance to swim towards to help you keep on track.
“Always be mindful of what is out there but don’t let it stop you from enjoying yourself.”
6. Fuel and hydration
Make sure you’re properly fueled especially in cold conditions or if you are planning to swim for a long period of time. You will be burning a lot more energy in colder conditions so be careful and keep in mind that you should also be replenishing fluids.
7. Tackle large waves the same way you would tackle a hill climb
I tell people now that when you first get into choppy conditions, just imagine that you are tackling small hill climbs in the water. Slow and steady, short strokes, breath continuously and then up the pace when you feel more confident. Try and find a rhythm with the waves.
8. You’re mostly worried about what you don’t know
Not knowing what is swimming underneath you can kill the confidence of even the strongest swimmer. Always be mindful of what is out there but don’t let it stop you from enjoying yourself.
9. Enjoy yourself
Most of all, make sure you take a moment to realize you are doing something really cool and experiencing something, that unfortunately, not a lot of people get the chance to do.
