Nearing Gorey Castle to the east of the islandFew of us can comprehend the strength and stamina required to complete the swim leg of an Ironman (2.4 miles), let alone a 44-mile open water swim around Jersey. But for longstanding forumite Dr Nic
Most triathletes come from a running or biking background, so it's no surprise that the swim is usually the part of the race triathletes like least. Pool swimming generally poses few problems but taking to the open water is another matter. There
're attempting.Improved catch (force exerted against water with maximum surface area and power): this means grabbing the water using the hand and forearm, and accelerating rearwards before feathering (turning the hand out of the water) at the end
-one-one lessons, and swam by myself three times a week and got up to doing 100 lengths,” he says.So far so good – now he needed to test himself. At the end of May, Ratbag entered the Blenheim Triathlon, his first open-water event.“I put my face in the water and I
.com), which offers open-water swimming and coaching camps, and holidays, in the UK and overseas. He is a qualified swim coach and an experienced swimmer, with a solo crossing of the English Channel to his name. He is passionate about introducing open-water
We've all committed open-water swimming sins. And no, that doesn't mean the undignified fisticuffs at the start of a race, but offences that are entirely our own fault: aiming for a swan instead of a buoy; forgetting everything we know about
great way to develop a feel for the water. When using them, keep your palm open and try to maintain the sensation of water running over your hand. These paddles are engineered for maximum resistance in water and used over time they will help to increase
for this in training. You're less likely to be nervous if you aim to swim one of your three weekly sessions in open water, with a group of triathletes if possible. Remind yourself that the water may be cold and choppy at the start of a triathlon
months - or even years - improving your body position, streamlining, kick, hand-entry position and the ever-elusive 'catch' (see our Expert Advice panel, right) may also fail to produce the desired speed, especially in open water.Sure, you'll make some
