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Practicing Your Open Water Skills in the Pool

One Key to Endurance Performance May Be Subliminal Visual Cues

Even if you don't have access to open water, you can practice key skills for race day from a pool.

The tri season is ramping up, and soon some of us will be able to get into open water to practice. But if you don’t have access to safe open water swimming, or the weather isn’t cooperating, did you know you can practice some of your open water skills in a swimming pool? Below are some exercises I’ve had my athletes work on in a pool.

Read at the USAT Multisport Zone

Is It a Better Swimming Workout to Use Fins?

Is a better swim workout to use fins?After goggles, fins are probably the most important accessory for swimmers. Their primary use is to help you do drills more effectively and efficiently. During drills, fins help with body positioning and they help you focus on efficient kicking. They also help increase leg strength and ankle flexibility. In other words, fins aren’t just there to make you go faster.

Read at Chron.com

Photo Credit: David De Lossy/Photodisc/Getty Images

Surviving the Tri Start

by Kevin Koskella, www.triswimcoach.com

lake entranceThe start of a triathlon can be nerve-wracking, tiring, intimidating, frustrating, and even discouraging (why do we do this sport??). But don't let all this get to you! The start for everyone is a crazy cluster of splashing, starts and stops, physical contact, and swimmers trying to separate from each other. Here are some tips to deal with what some consider being the toughest part of any triathlon:

  • Expect the worst. Go into the event expecting that the start will not be easy. Know that you will bump into people, others will bump into you, but 99% of the time it is all by accident. Also know that the chaos at the beginning will not last for the entire swim, it will break up quickly as different speed swimmers separate.

Read more: Surviving the Tri Start

6 FAQ's to Keep In Mind for your Race Day Swim

transition 1

by Kevin Koskella, www.triswimcoach.com

Should I wear a wetsuit?
It depends on if wetsuits are allowed in the race. Most of the age group races allow wetsuits. In this case, by all means, use a wetsuit! You will not only be able to withstand cold water, but you will also be given the gift of buoyancy by your apparel- which will make it a lot easier to get through the swim.
Can I swim another stroke besides freestyle?
Yes. Although freestyle is the fastest and most common stroke in triathlon, beginners may benefit from an occasionally few strokes of backstroke or breastroke to regain their breath.

Read more: 6 FAQ's to Keep In Mind for your Race Day Swim

How to Master the Top 5 Challenges to Breathing in Freestyle

by Kevin Koskella, www.triswimcoach.com

The most common question I hear in the triathlete world about the mysteries of swimming efficiently usually involves something with breathing. In freestyle, it is the first step to get your body position right. Then, for many, you throw in breathing and everything goes haywire! This has to do with lack of balance, using your head instead of your core to breath, and a few other factors.

Read more: How to Master the Top 5 Challenges to Breathing in Freestyle

10 Steps to Improving Your Triathlon Swim

by Kevin Koskella, www.triswimcoach.com

As technical as the sport of swimming can be, it is tough to narrow down the answer to the often-asked question, "what should I concentrate on?" So, I came up with a "top ten" list of steps to improving your swim for a triathlon. These aren't necessarily in any order, but should go a long way in helping you achieve your goals, whether you are a beginner or trying to go pro.

  1. Hand Entry. Slice your hand into the water right about at your goggle line, and drive it forward. Many swimmers attempt to get as much "air time" as possible by reaching the hand out before entering into the water, but it is actually more efficient to go through the water with your hand as you rotate from one side to the other.
  2. Read more: 10 Steps to Improving Your Triathlon Swim

Are You Out of Shape for Swimming?

by Kevin Koskella, www.triswimcoach.com

Have you taken a break from swimming?

Do you feel out of shape and feel the need to get back in shape quickly?

Here are some tips to help you get back to feeling the best you can in the water:

Read more: Are You Out of Shape for Swimming?

Swimming vs. Golf

by Kevin Koskella, www.triswimcoach.com

Recently, I have taken up golf, and I can't help but notice the similarities between learning golf and learning swimming. Both are finesse sports that require large amounts of concentration and practice to get right, and it is unnecessary (and ill-advised) to gain great amounts of strength to make major improvements in either sport. Let's look at some specific ways golf is like swimming:

Read more: Swimming vs. Golf