• Events
  • Race Schedule
  • Distances Categories
  • Race Day Series Awards
  • Registration
  • Mult-Race Discount
  • Results
  • Lakeside
  • Binbrook (Hamilton)
  • Welland
  • Gravenhurst
  • Bala Falls
  • Bracebridge
  • Toronto Island
  • Cobourg
  • Wasaga Beach
  • Lakeside II
• Contests
  • Surveys
  • Racer of the Day
  • Shot of the Race
  • Season-Long Draw
  • Privacy
• Training
  • Overview
  • Basic Training Guide
  • Racing Guide
  • On Race Day
  • Seminars
  • Clubs and Teams
  • Club Rewards Programs
  • Coaches
  • Articles Library
  • Camps and Clinics
  • Nutrition
  • Wellness
  • Equipment
  • Computrainer
  • GoodLife Fitness
  • Triathlon Links
• About Us
  • The Team
  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • Sponsors
  • Retailers
  • Privacy

Open Water Swimming Tips - by Barbi Carroll

As the triathlon race season approaches, many of you may be beginning to worry about the swim leg of our sport. Regardless of your ability level, all of us experience some degree of anxiety in relation to open water swimming, and I would like to offer some tips that will help diminish that stress.

First of all, don’t let race day be the first time that you swim in open water. Try to do a few swim sessions in open water conditions. Always, swim with a partner or a group of people, of similar ability levels. While out practicing in open water, I suggest doing an out and back swim of 100-300m maximum. This way, if anyone in your group is having a difficult swim, you can check in with each other. Also, having someone on the shore is helpful, you can use that person as your spotting device (in absence of the big orange buoys!!!)

Secondly, find your own space to swim. During the start of a race it can be easy to get caught up in flying elbows and kicking feet. I suggest trying to find your own space and this will help you to swim your own race and not waste too much energy at the beginning of the swim. By finding your own space, you do not have to worry about swimming over others or in reverse being swum over. While swimming, lift your head to spot for the buoy and do a quick check to make sure that you still have your space, swimming beside or around someone is fine, but try not to swim over. A great way to practice this is to go to the pool during a time you know that the swim lanes are busy, and try to get into a lane with 3 or more other swimmers. This will enable you to practice passing people and knowing what it is like to get passed.

Another important part of open water swimming is always moving forward. If the unexpected does happen, such as you get elbowed, kicked or your goggles fill with water don’t panic. My biggest advice to all triathletes is to just keep moving forward don’t stop, keep swimming. Whether it is by rolling over on to your back and catching your breath while kicking, or by doing breaststroke until you are ready to continue freestyle. This way you are still moving towards your goal, but you are also able to regroup, catch your breath and resume your pace.

Finally, the biggest tip I can suggest for open water swimming is to invest in a wetsuit. For those of you out there who struggle to find that perfect body position, where the hips are high in the water and the feet are able to make splash at the surface, the wetsuit will help you find that positioning. Wetsuits make you more buoyant, warmer and most of all will help you feel more confident while in open water. Again, be sure to swim in your wetsuit prior to race day so that you are comfortable putting it on, swimming in it and taking it off.

By incorporating some of these ideas into your training, you will gain more confidence in your swimming ability which will make your race day more enjoyable. Have fun out there.

Barbi Carroll
Swimming/Triathlon Coach