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Ocean Swimming

TICKERS TEN TIPS FOR SWIMMING IN THE OCEAN

 

 

TICKER WAS BORN IN THE OCEAN, AND OUR HEART BEATS FOR THE OCEAN. WE BELIEVE THERE IS NO BETTER FEELING THAN SWIMMING, CATCHING WAVES, AND TESTING YOUR METTLE IN THE OCEAN.  AUSTRALIA HAS THE MOST HEALTHY OCEAN SWIMMING CIRCUIT IN THE WORLD. EVERY WEEK FROM OCTOBER THROUGH TO JUNE THERE ARE OCEAN RACES HAPPENING AT AUSTRALIAS COAST. THESE ARE NOT JUST FOR THE ELITE, THE CORE MEMBERS OF THIS SPORT SWIM FOR CAMARADERIE AND THE PERSONAL CHALLENGE OF THE 'JOURNEY SWIMS'.THESE WEEKEND OCEAN WARRIORS ARE THE PEOPLE TICKER IS MADE FOR. TO CHECK OUT WHEN A RACE IS OCCURRING NEAR YOU, VISIT  WWW.OCEANSWIMS.COM.  WHEN YOU CATCH THE BUG, BELOW IS A BEGINNERS GUIDE ON HOW TO RACE.

 

1. SWIM THE FIRST STAGE OF THE COURSE IN WARM UP. SWIM STRAIGHT OUT FROM THE START POINT FOR 75 METERS OR SO LOOK BACK TO SHORE AND CHECK WHETHER THERE IS ANY DISCERNABLE DRIFT. BY COMPENSATING FOR THIS IN THE RACE YOU CAN GAIN VALUABLE TIME IN TURNING THE FIRST MARKER BUOY.

 

 

2. PRACTICE YOUR WADING INTO THE WATER. KEEP YOUR KNEES UP AND WADE OVER THE SMALLER WAVES. DUCK DIVE WHEN THE WATER IS OVER A METER DEEP. USE THE BOTTOM FOR PROPULSION IN A PORPOISE MOTION. PORPOISING CONSERVES MORE ENERGY THAN WADING.

 

 

3. IN LARGER SURF DIVE UNDER WAVES DON’T TRY TO SWIM THROUGH THEM. IN BIG SURF DIVE TO THE BOTTOM, GRAB THE SAND BRING YOUR FEET TO YOUR HANDS AND DIVE UP AT 45 DEGREES TO THE BACK OF THE WAVE ABOVE YOU.

 

 

4. MAKE SURE YOU WEAR GOGGLES WITH GOOD VISIBILITY. AWARENESS AND KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE - IN TERMS OF OTHER SWIMMERS, WAVES AND THE NEXT TURNING MARKER IS PARAMOUNT IN COVERING A COURSE EFFICIENTLY.

 

 

5. LOOK FOR CLEAR WATER, AND WHERE YOU CAN, NAVIGATE AND DETERMINE YOUR BEST COURSE. IN THE OCEAN YOU WILL LOOK AROUND MUCH MORE THAN IN A POOL. TOP OCEAN SWIMMERS DEVELOP FORWARD LOOKING BREATHEING INTO THEIR ROUTINE. IT’S NO USE JUST FOLLOWING THE PERSON IN FRONT; SET YOUR OWN COURSE AND DEVELOPE YOUR OWN SKILLS!

 

 

6. THE SWIMMING STROKE IN THE OCEAN IS A MORE ROUGH AND READY ONE. LIKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIDING A MOUNTAIN BIKE AND RIDING IN THE VELODROME. YOU MAY FIND IT BENEFICIAL TO ADOPT HIGHER ARM RECOVERY WITH ROUNDER ELBOW STROKES TO COMPENSATE FOR CHOP.

 

 

7. PACE YOURSELF AT A SPEED YOU CAN KEEP UP. IT'S NO USE DYING AND FLOUNDERING FOR THREE QUARTERS OF THE RACE BECAUSE YOU WASTED ALL YOUR ENERGY EARLY. KEEP SOME ENERGY FOR THE GRUELING FINISH AND WAVE CATCHING.

 

 

8. USE THE OCEAN - DON’T FIGHT AGAINST IT. ANTICIPATE DRIFTS AND SWELLS TO HELP YOU GET AROUND MARKER BOUYS WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF ENERGY.

 

 

9. ON THE WAY HOME LIFT YOUR TEMPO WITH ANY SWELLS. YOU CAN GET VALUABLE METERS BY MOVING WITH THESE WAVES.

 

 

10. TO BENEFIT FROM BODY SURFING IN A RACE, YOU WILL NEED TO PRACTICE IT AS AN ART BEFORE HAND. BODY SURFING IN A RACE IS TEN TIMES AS HARD DUE TO FATIGUE AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH.

 

10A. SHOW SOME TICKER - ENJOY THE JOURNEY!