Onshore, we see… waves lapping, freestyle arms pulling the swimmers ahead, 3K…4K…5K…back-and-forth…surge and slow…lead, draft, fall-back, one swimmer sprinting ahead of the pack with a strong kick to get to clear water, round the buoys smoothly, a sudden herd of swimmers at the lead swimmers’ feet, trying not to touch them…10K of open water swimming… a marathon.
Sprint Flutter Kick
This fast, up-and-down motion alternates feet. Toes pointed, feet stay submerged, rotating as the body rotates. Feet stay in the narrow path that the head and shoulders have cut through the water. This kick uses a lot of energy so it is best saved for the last part of the open water swim.
Distance Crossover Kick
This slower, less taxing kick is helpful for long events. Swimmers cross their ankles with each (or every other) kick. The crossover kick is used less for propulsion and more for keeping swimmers in their rhythm and afloat.
Drafting
Etiquette dictates that free riders have to stay back a few inches and not irritate the lead swimmer’s feet. If a competitor keeps touching his feet, the lead swimmer’s gives a few extreme kicks. The competitor gets the message.
Go to PAN AM Schedule – http://www.toronto2015.org/schedule
Resources:
http://www.toronto2015.org/open-water-swimming
http://www.enjoy-swimming.com/learn-to-swim.html
http://www.xtri.com/swim-tech/detail/284-itemId.511711564.html
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)
TRAINING – COMPETITION – PODIUM
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