Say goodbye to a clear, temperate, chlorinated U.S. Masters swimming pool, and say hello to a murky green lake with fish and algae and fresh country air. I’m no expert on open water swimming. However, I’d like to share 5 tips that my friends and I found helpful in our transition out of the pool and into a lake.
1. Swim with Friends
Swimming with friends isn’t necessary, but is a very good idea. Friends offer encouragement and feedback. Of course, it is certainly safer to swim with friends than to swim alone.
2. Have Kayak Support
Do you or your friends know someone with a kayak? A kayaker provides emotional support and encouragement, as well as giving you something to hold onto if you get tired or a little spooked. If you are a newbie to open water swimming, don’t be afraid to ask your kayak supporter to paddle in front of you. Think of him or her as your mama duck.
3. Consider a Wetsuit
You may opt to use a wetsuit depending on the location of your lake and your body mass index. I find having excess body fat useful in cold water: it helps me to float, and it insulates me. My über fit, lean friends have to shell out the big bucks for wetsuits to keep themselves warm in our mountain lakes. The advantage to using a wetsuit is that it lifts a swimmer’s legs and hips into a higher position in the water, creating less drag. Less drag = swim faster.
4. A Different Destination: Freedom From Lane Lines and Walls and Learning to Sight
Goodbye four walls, lane lines and lane hogs! Swimming in the open water allows us to enjoy the freedom to roam where we please. Enjoy the smell of pine trees or wild grasses instead of chlorine, damp towels and flipflops that should be tossed. It may take a bit of getting used to not having a black line underneath or a lane line on either side. Many public-use lakes have buoys strategically placed, whether to mark a swimming area or small boat races or if you are lucky, open water swim races. Use these buoys to learn to sight. Remember that lifting your head to sight (spot your destination) even slightly will cause your hip and legs to drop, which creates drag. If you sight too often you will slow down. If you do not sight enough, chances are you may get off course. (See #2 for assistance.)
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5. Have Fun
Isn’t it a good idea to laugh at yourself and your friends? There’s no coach standing on the deck watching you like a hawk – take advantage of it. Relax. Enjoy the fresh air. Practice your open water swimming techniques at your own pace and note your progress.
Good luck and maybe I’ll see you in the open water!
