I literally hate pools. I swim 90% of my swims in open water. I'm 72, not competitive, I'm strictly swimming recreationally, and taught myself freestyle, much of the time by watching this channel. Swimming in waves is a wonderful exercise.
I started to swim in the pool at 47. One year later started to swim at the ocean as well. After one more year I started to feel exhausted in the pool classes. And felt energised after swimming in the ocean for 1, 2, sometimes 3 hours. So this year I cancelled my subscription in the swimming classes in the pool and increased my frequency of swimming in the sea. I feel so renewed now! Not to mention that I saved a few $ (the sea is free!)
Hell yeah, I'm not so anti-pool but swimming in the ocean is so damn nice. Salt water tastes good, swell and chop keeps it interesting, and no interruption from wall turns. Also became quite fond of casual swims around headlands to check out the marine life, covering way more distance than snorkelling. I love the freedom and solitude of open water, but the biggest thing I had to contend with was my irrational fear of not seeing the bottom in silty conditions or deep water. I largely got that under control by practising in Lake Wainamu which has almost zero visibility (can barely see an outstretched hand) and plunges away so steeply you can jump into it from the edge and already be out of your depth. I would swim out to a buoy about 400m offshore, which made a refreshing summer evening treat after a hot trek through the dunes. The surroundings are so beautiful I was forced to deal with the creepy abyss below swallowing slivers of sunlight dancing around the indistinct shadow of my body. Sadly, public access to that lake has been closed now for nearly two years as a result of flooding that decimated the area.
Thank you! This was really informative. My very first open water sea swim is coming up in December and i live far from any open waters, so only practising in the pool. I am confident I can swim the distance, i an worried about the open water panic. Any tips on that would be appreciated. 🙏
Open water does not appeal to me at all. Seems monotonous and boring. I prefer the pool, there are other people around and I can swim multiple strokes and do intervals. I live in San Diego but have never swum in open water.
I literally hate pools. I swim 90% of my swims in open water. I'm 72, not competitive, I'm strictly swimming recreationally, and taught myself freestyle, much of the time by watching this channel. Swimming in waves is a wonderful exercise.
I started to swim in the pool at 47. One year later started to swim at the ocean as well. After one more year I started to feel exhausted in the pool classes. And felt energised after swimming in the ocean for 1, 2, sometimes 3 hours. So this year I cancelled my subscription in the swimming classes in the pool and increased my frequency of swimming in the sea. I feel so renewed now! Not to mention that I saved a few $ (the sea is free!)
Hell yeah, I'm not so anti-pool but swimming in the ocean is so damn nice. Salt water tastes good, swell and chop keeps it interesting, and no interruption from wall turns. Also became quite fond of casual swims around headlands to check out the marine life, covering way more distance than snorkelling. I love the freedom and solitude of open water, but the biggest thing I had to contend with was my irrational fear of not seeing the bottom in silty conditions or deep water.
I largely got that under control by practising in Lake Wainamu which has almost zero visibility (can barely see an outstretched hand) and plunges away so steeply you can jump into it from the edge and already be out of your depth. I would swim out to a buoy about 400m offshore, which made a refreshing summer evening treat after a hot trek through the dunes. The surroundings are so beautiful I was forced to deal with the creepy abyss below swallowing slivers of sunlight dancing around the indistinct shadow of my body.
Sadly, public access to that lake has been closed now for nearly two years as a result of flooding that decimated the area.
Great video. I can do open water swimming not to bad but it is the anxiety just before a race I need to work on. I'll try some of your tips next time.
Very informative and complete!
Great tips! Thanks
I struggle in bath water.
I’ll make a video
i swim 2.5km open water everyday with my 2 70old friends.
What about large fish
Any advice on panic attacks?
Thank you! This was really informative. My very first open water sea swim is coming up in December and i live far from any open waters, so only practising in the pool. I am confident I can swim the distance, i an worried about the open water panic. Any tips on that would be appreciated. 🙏
During an open water swim i'll set my finis tempo trainer to 80 and just let it fly.
Always wondered if a beeper is actually legal in e.g. an Ironman race?
Open water does not appeal to me at all. Seems monotonous and boring. I prefer the pool, there are other people around and I can swim multiple strokes and do intervals. I live in San Diego but have never swum in open water.
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