My Big OWS!

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titeloops

2009-09-14 1:16 PM

Expert

1066

Raleigh

Subject: My Big OWS!

The family and I have taken a vacation to the beach, and I have really been looking forward to it. My wifes family has a house right on the beach. I knew my brother-in-law had a few wetsuits in the house. I've been planning on accomplishing a few things during this week. Try swimming in a wetsuit (I've never put one on before), and also hit the OWS hard. The swim has been my nemesis so far in my training. So on day 1 of the vacation, I wake up early and look out at the ocean. A little choppy, but seems ok. So I go into the driveway and start trying to figure out how in the hell to get the wetsuit on. OMG, who new it was going to be such an ordeal. I basically inch my way into this thing. My wife opens the door and is laughing as hard as I've ever heard her laugh. She asks if I'm practicing wrestling moves. Finally, like a half an hour later, I'm in. So I head to the beach, wade out past the breakers, and start my swim. My goal was to swim to a rock breakwater about a quarter mile away, turn and swim back. Just swim parallel to the beach turn and swim back. I'm about 40 meters into the swim when the panic factor sets in. It was really weird out there. Couldn't see anything. So I start to try some sighting. I look up and realize that while I started my swim about 50 yards off the beach, I'm now about 150 yards of the beach. Uh Oh. I freak out a little. I calm myself and say hay, i'm hear to swim. So I turn for the beach and start to swim in. Swim for a while, look up, and see I'm now even farther off the beach. I mean I was way out there! Panic big time!! I realize I am definitley caught in some type of rip current. I flip on my back and try and go parallel to the beach for a ways and eventually I start to make progress towards the shore. I make it to the beach and I'm exhausted. Head back to the house and spend another 20 minutes trying to squeeze out of the wetsuit. I wish I could have seen myself, I know I must have looked rediculous.
Well, back to the pool for me. I'm a little disappointed that a week of access to OW right out my back door hasn't worked out so well. On the positive side, my rides and runs have been awesome, no hills at the beach!

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rdeclercq

2009-09-14 1:39 PM

in reply to: #2405380

Veteran

205

South Florida

Subject: RE: My Big OWS!

OWS is definitely a different "stroke" than pool swimming. I didn't get into ocean swimming until I started training last year for my first triathlon (noting that my background is swimming). Fortunately, the ocean is in our backyard here in South Florida, where the water is usually too warm for a wetsuit. Nonetheless, if you have the opportunity to wear a wetsuit during a race, recommendation is to wear it - but learn how to tear the sucker off in 10 seconds or less (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXtMjUBtPJg).

If you're new to OWS, I would highly recommend swimming with someone else as well. I will also say that practice makes perfect so you need to get in that OW as often as possible. Do some lake swimming if possible.

Best,
Rob

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Donto

2009-09-14 2:29 PM

in reply to: #2405380

Pro

6582

Melbourne FL

Gold member

Subject: RE: My Big OWS!

Soak it in water for 20-30 minutes or so before putting it on.

Bodyglide/PAM spray around the ankles & calf's. I use some also around the neck area.

Ocean swimming as you found out is usually not the same a swimming in a lake. I'll never forget the time I was swimming parallel to shore and the water got warm. I looked up and saw that I was indeed going out, I just kept on swimming parallel to shore.

It's was a learning experience and use it that way as a confidence builder.

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furiousferret

2009-09-14 2:47 PM

in reply to: #2405548

Master

2404

Redlands, CA

Subject: RE: My Big OWS!

Ocean OWS can be treacherous, out here (well where I grew up) in NorCal people die all the time from rip currents. In fact I've almost lost it several times. When I was a young lad I used to surf all the time, and during storms was the best surf. So I went during a small storm and got caught in a wave, went under, and by the time I got to my board I was pretty far out and going further. The rip current was so wide I couldn't get out or swim back. I was washed out so far I just gave up; I couldn't see the beach anymore, just the cliffs. I was out there for about 5 hours with just my thoughts, probably about 3 miles out to sea, arms exhausted, and finally got picked up by a Coast Guard boat.

If I may ask, where was this at?

Edited by furiousferret 2009-09-14 2:49 PM

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csharp1171

2009-09-14 3:05 PM

in reply to: #2405380

Master

1402

Cumming, Georgia

Subject: RE: My Big OWS!

I guess I am lucky since I have never really had issues getting a wetsuit on/off. A tip for getting it on is to use plastic bags around your limbs. I put a grocery bag around both my feet and it slips right on. For removal just "peel" it off inside out.

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rdeclercq

2009-09-14 3:09 PM

in reply to: #2405620

Veteran

205

South Florida

Subject: RE: My Big OWS!

csharp1171,

Does the bag itch or bother you in any way after a while? Interesting idea. Never heard of that. I have been told many times NEVER to use Vaseline, but to use Glide; which is what I use (when I actually have to use a wetsuit).

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csharp1171

2009-09-14 3:15 PM

in reply to: #2405635

Master

1402

Cumming, Georgia

Subject: RE: My Big OWS!

rdeclercq - 2009-09-14 4:09 PM csharp1171,

Does the bag itch or bother you in any way after a while? Interesting idea. Never heard of that. I have been told many times NEVER to use Vaseline, but to use Glide; which is what I use (when I actually have to use a wetsuit).

Take the bag off after getting the wetsuit on. I jsut slip them over my feet, slip into the wetsuit and pull it over my feet to my ankles and then pull the bags off. I use little grocery bags.

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titeloops

2009-09-15 2:06 PM

in reply to: #2405592

Expert

1066

Raleigh

Subject: RE: My Big OWS!

furiousferret - 2009-09-14 2:47 PM Ocean OWS can be treacherous, out here (well where I grew up) in NorCal people die all the time from rip currents. In fact I've almost lost it several times. When I was a young lad I used to surf all the time, and during storms was the best surf. So I went during a small storm and got caught in a wave, went under, and by the time I got to my board I was pretty far out and going further. The rip current was so wide I couldn't get out or swim back. I was washed out so far I just gave up; I couldn't see the beach anymore, just the cliffs. I was out there for about 5 hours with just my thoughts, probably about 3 miles out to sea, arms exhausted, and finally got picked up by a Coast Guard boat.

If I may ask, where was this at?

This all happened in the great statre of SC.

Tried again this morning. Went much better. No wetsuit. Just me and my goggles. The current and waves were a lot smaller. It actually went really well. I was actually able to try and slow down and focus on my technique. The one thing that really got me though, was the saltwater in the mouth. Everytime I would breath, I would suck some in. Tastes like a fishes butt.

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Pector55

2009-09-15 2:13 PM

in reply to: #2407748