How Do You Swim Straight in the Open Water?

author : Tri Swim Coach

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You can practice several things like bi-lateral breathing, sight less and use long strokes to help you swim straight

By Kevin Koskella

www.triswimcoach.com  

Swimming straight is a major challenge to open water swimming (and even swimming in a pool with lane lines!), and the key lies in one of our other fun challenges in swimming: breathing!

Here's a quick guide to swimming straight:

1. Simply doing alternate (or bi-lateral) breathing will go a long way towards making you swim in a straight line. If you are comfortable with this, breathe every three strokes and you will be much more in line with where you want to go.

2. If you cannot get enough oxygen while breathing bilaterally, this can be a big problem on a distance swim. Practice swimming and breathing two strokes on the left, two on the right, then go to three breaths left, three right. Then try two on the left, one on the right, three-one, etc. Find what works for keeping you in line, and stick with that plan in your race.

3. Practice sighting less often, as this will disrupt your stroke rhythm and balance.

4. Keep your strokes long.  Extend your arm out in front on each stroke, and drive it forward.

5. Practice the One Arm Drill (in the Complete Guide), and pay attention to your arm pull, making sure you are not crossing in with your hand.

6. Practice open water swimming. Just being used to the environment will get you more comfortable, and you will intuitively pick up on swimming straight out there.

Notice the use of the word “practice” consistently throughout these tips. Keep that in mind as you learn this new skill!

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date: August 7, 2007