Total Immersion Workshops - Worth it?

Fire in the hole!

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GRENADE!!!!!

It very well maybe worth it. What kind of swimmer are you now?

When I started with tris, I looked into TI workshop and for less money opted to hire a private TI instructor so I could learn and then work on it then have another lesson repeat over time. I probably had 6-8 lessons over 3-4 months. She got me so I could swim but how to breath I struggled with and never got much help with.

For me I think TI taught me a lot of bad habits that took work to break or that is what other coaches have told me.

Since TI lessons in '05, I've worked with a master coach who is high level Pro Xterra triathlete, and two different swim coaches with different focus and had probably 40 lessons most private and I'm still slow. My stroke mechanics are better but I haven't gotten faster.

I do wonder how TI has effected my swimming all these years later.

I had success with it when I started to swim. Helped me with body position and basic arm mechanics. I used it merely for technique. I still refer to it for some drills.

Now to get swimming faster, I had to swim faster

TI is good for learning stroke analysis, balance and efficiency but will not make you faster. they insist on that funky hand entry next to the head and a really late catch, which costs speed. I see all kinds of folks very diligently praticing the TI drills month after month and get no faster.

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Edited by PennState 2010-05-16 11:30 AM

I think its great for the non swimmer...I had a few lessons to help be with balance when I got started.     What the non-T1 community needs to realize is some of us didn't grow up in a swim program - they throw fins and PB at you etc before you are ready...

Now having said this; I think most any program will work if you do the work.   Swimming is so technical.   I am still slow, but the reality is I don't swim enough...In going long, I remember a statement, basically, you can't get better without swimming at least 3 hours a week.  

I agree, great for the non-swimmer. I can't comment about speed, but I used to hate the swim part of tris and now it's my favorite, and I've actually done other long-distance open-water swim events just for fun, since learning TI.

That weekend workshop is the only swimming lesson I've ever had. Went from having to do breaststroke in tris to having a mile PR of 27 minutes, loving swimming, and wanting to swim forever. Worked for me, but like I said, I'm not looking for super speed, just comfort and the ability to swim long.

Thanks very much for the posts and input. As I am new to swimming I will try some of the drills regarding balance and to get more comfortable in the water and also take some lessons. Thanks again for the comments.