Open Water Workshop for Triathletes (One Day)

Do you want to swim more calmly in a crowd?

Would you like to swim the shortest distance?

Are you expending too much energy in the swim leg?

The purpose of this workshop is to introduce beginning and entry-level triathletes to open water.  We guarantee you'll leave our open water workshop with a much better stroke than you arrived with and you'll be much more comfortable in the open water.

You should sign-up for this workshop if you:   

• have little or no open water experience
• want to learn how to practice in an environment without walls or lane lines
• are preparing for your first triathlon or open water triathlon event
• had an unpleasant or unsuccessful prior experience in a triathlon
• would simply like to fully enjoy open water swimming
• want to improve your racing performance for open water

You'll learn three basic concepts at our workshop:

 1. Perpetual Motion Freestyle

We'll teach you techniques focused on key stroke habits for tireless swimming that:

• help you adapt your pool stroke to waves, chop and currents 
• allow you to swim long distances without walls or flip turns
• show you how to use longer stretches of uninterrupted stroking

2. Swim With Friends

The best part of open water - and a key to safe swimming - is practicing with friends. Rather than swimming in endless circles in the pool, in open water, you can practice a wide range of formations and patterns. 

We'll introduce you to five ways of swimming with others. These are not only hugely enjoyable, but also teach you:

• how to save energy by drafting,
• how to navigate effectively without lanes or lines
• how to keep your "cool" when swimming in crowded, chaotic conditions

3. Simulated Racing Experience

If you are interested in a low-pressure way to test your swim skills at work, our workshop will offer realistic, low-pressure simulations of open water racing.  In this part of the workshop you will:

• learn to thrive in - or avoid -- the "controlled chaos" of race starts
• learn to swim around turn-arounds /buoys effectively
• save energy by drafting
• get your bearings and learn to navigate without "zig-zagging"
• learn how to enjoy the open water racing experience
• have a chance to practice your new skills in a low-key fun race
• get personal feedback and review your results and video

Are wetsuits welcome?

Yes, if it will help you be more comfortable and to learn how to adapt the Open Water Technique for wetsuit swimming.  The water may be a bit warm, however, you will get as much time in the water to swim with your wetsuit. We will also show you the best techniques to don your wetsuit and to strip it off in the transition area.  We will also review basic swimming gear essentials for a triathlon. 

Sunday

7:30 am           Check-in and introduction

8:00 - 9:30      1^st video taping and group instruction (Perpetual Motion Freestyle)

9:30 - 10:30    Classroom & review of 1^st video taping

10:30 - 11:45  Wetsuits, Gear and Lunch Break (bring sack lunch)         

12:00 - 1:45   Group instruction (Swimming in Groups) &  2^nd video taping

2:00 - 3:30     Classroom & review  of 2^nd video taping    

3:45 - 4:15     Simulated Race Swim & 3^rd video taping

4:30 - 5:30     Classroom &  review of 3^rd video taping & wrap-up

5:30 pm          BBQ/Dinner & social gathering (optional)

Tuition: $250

Location: Twin Lakes RV Park, Manvel, TX

Directions: http://www.scubapark.net/map.shtml

Twin Lakes -
located on Hwy 6, just 1.8 miles East of 288 at 19230 Morris Ave., Manvel, TX 77578

Note: $5.00 entry fee required to enter park.

Cancellations: Workshop tuition includes a $125 non-refundable deposit. No refund will be issued for cancellations made less than eight (8) days prior to the start of the scheduled workshop.