In last issue’s article I focused on the catch. A good catch leads to an effective pull, so now is probably a good time to look at the three important pull phases. Your pull can lead to the biggest improvement in your stroke. Phase 1 Downward During the first phase, the hand enters the water in line with the shoulder. The hand must be relaxed and flat. Your fingers must be together with your thumb […]
Archive | Swim
Must-Know Wetsuit Buying Tips
Buying your first wetsuit can be a daunting prospect. We quiz one of South Africa’s top ITU triathletes, Richard Murray, on what you should be looking out for when making this important purchase. A wetsuit not only keeps you warm during colder swims, it also gives you buoyancy, which aids your speed. “Besides providing buoyancy, a wetsuit controls body temperature and improves efficiency in the water,” says Richard. “This contributes to a faster swim split […]
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Bodysurfing 101: The Dos And Don’ts
Even though it’s the cold season, lifesavers and multisporters just keep calm and carry on. Winter is a hotbed of racing and an opportunity to prepare for the next summer. The one discipline which can be hard to continue is (you guessed it!)… swimming. Swimming in winter can be daunting, even if indoors in a heated pool. So the most enjoyable way to keep your swimming fitness going through winter is to go outside and […]
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Four Ways To Improve Your Surf Swim
Swimming in the sea is tough and requires a few different skill sets compared to pool swimming. Here are my four ways to improve your surf swim. Medley Swims Even though the majority of your surf swim racing is done freestyle, make sure you add backstroke, butterfly and breast stroke into your training programme. Developing all-round strength, capability and comfort in the water is key to a strong and confident open water swim. Race The […]
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Reduce your swimming resistance, swim faster
Cheat resistance with four swim drills Resistance is one of the most important and most neglected aspects of swimming, especially when training for a multisport event. The fact that water is 1,000 times more dense than air explains why there is so much resistive force against us when we swim. This force is called drag. Our body also causes its own drag through turbulence as we speed up or decelerate through the stroke cycle. So […]
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Applying Science to the art of swimming
Catching up with starts & turns in SA Swimming Practice makes perfect… Does it really? The answer is NO! Practice will probably make fit, however perfect practice in training will better assist the journey to perfection.
