10 Tips You Need For Your Next Swim! | Open Water Swimming Race Tips

Nervous ahead of your first open water swim? Maybe your last experience didn't go to plan? Mistakes happen and for sure we've made a few of our own too - but you always learn from them. Here are our top 10 tips ahead of your next race or swim!
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[@gtn]

What are your worries about open water swimming? Let us know 👇

[@MyDadWasALifeguard]

Swimming among others…sighting in dark elements

[@jonnol7105]

Crocodiles! NT, Australia.

[@SidMalipatil]

Swimming without googles

[@stevenagel6096]

One I would add is when to stand up for your exit. In the my first one or two triathlons i found that sighting the depth can be tough, which would result in me stopping my stroke putting my feet down to stand, only to find out the water is still 5ft deep. SO I learnt to stand once my fingers touch the bottom.

[@robstriathlontipsforbeginners]

If you find yourself panicking at the start of the swim even if you’ve done a few triathlons, it may actually be caused by nutrition. I discovered that if I have a gel (with or without caffeine) before the swim then my heart rate goes up and my breathing is hard to control. I will spend 300 meters freaking out. I’m sensitive to the quick sugar rush. If I have a bar instead, all good.

[@CoachPursuit]

On your last stroke let a bit of water into the top of your wetsuit below your neck. Fills it up and helps take it off easier/quicker!

[@caseydog237]

Very helpful. Five days until my first 70.3 (and first tri in over 30 years). Boulder 70.3 in a reservoir.

[@gtn]

Good luck!

[@thaiscapovilla8287]

How was it?

[@ovidiui.1634]

Thanks for the advices. One month until my 1st half Iron man and the part that scares me the most is swimming since I never had to use a wetsuit. Hope I won't tangle myself in it after I finish :)))

[@alisontriathlonlover]

Great tips, thank you 👍

[@BullittXIII]

Nice to see you guys in Portugal 😁Big fan here..thank you for some more very helpful video👍🏼

[@MyDadWasALifeguard]

Yes I do..this coming Sunday..first Tri..first open water swim…thanks

[@marileguas_tri]

Love your hacks! Special thanks from Brazil. 🥰

[@gtn]

You are so welcome!

[@jamiefuhrman403]

Thanks for the video! Could you possibly do one discussing different goggles lens? Not familiar with the pros and cons of different tints. Also any recommendations for a beach start into extremely cold water?

[@larissadueck2643]

Tinted/mirrored goggles are best for sunny days. Clear goggles are best for fully cloudy days

[@danishaudiocompany1012]

Heather really enjoyed your commentary on the Tokyo Olympic Modern Pentathlon……..what a great result 2x Golds.

[@heatherfell_oly]

Thanks Steven. Was an honour to be part of the games.

[@aptitudemedia17]

Reeds.....Swam in a lake we were doing a event few weeks before and the reeds were awful they were pretty on the surface. Day before the event we got word they were dying and werent an issue on race day.

[@PlayfulCoaCoa]

Drafting should be top priority indeed

[@kegoangoango]

Do you sight and then breathe or breathe and then sight?

[@ahcryz2543]

sight then breathe

[@francoisthomas4930]

I'd say breathe then sight, it fits the movement better. When you breathe your whole body rotates to the side, making it harder to lift your head forward. So breathe on the side, then quick look ahead once your hand goes ahead of your head

[@winklertribe5268]

I need to wear earplugs when swimming, which makes wearing a swim cap tough. Is a swim cap necessary/ required? What is the benefit of wearing a swim cap?

[@jonathanzappala]

I have no problem with ear plugs under a cap interesting. Wearing the cap is usually required. I’ve never seen someone get in trouble though. I have seen someone get a penalty for discarding their cap at swim exit, that’s all.

[@larissadueck2643]

Every race I've done requires the swim cap. It makes you visible in the water for the lifeguards.

[@swepeuaq]

If only someone had gave me the same advice before swimming into a buoy, going the wrong side of a buoy, then clambering up the side of the exit ramp.

[@firminodias4419]

I see pros with the wetsuit zip on the down side... how does that work? And if you put the wetsuit over your watch, how do you start the activity?

[@firminodias4419]

@venswim they almost never answer questions. Its annoying. They ask us to make question, but then, never reply.

[@heatherfell_oly]

@@firminodias4419 keep an eye on coaches corner

[@KwadSkwad]

I have.. escape from alcatraz triathlon, in less than 2 weeks!!!! Only worried about the cold water :D :D :D

[@Cookefan59]

If they allow it, try getting in the water and do 25 yards or so, then pee inside the wetsuit. It will help keep you warmer. I know it sounds gross but after the first few hundred yards out in the real cold water, you’ll thank yourself for those few extra degrees of warmth.

[@ahcryz2543]

@@Cookefan59 ah no ty id prefer get in cold then be that gross lol, there must be another way

[@nataliemels811]

Also use baby oil on your body before putting a wetsuit on. It will help you get the wetsuit on much quicker!!

[@badalll]

Why i heard Heather's voice during yesterday Women Javelin Final at Tokyo?

[@jonathanzappala]

She did go to Tokyo to be a commentator. Idk if that includes track and field.

[@badalll]

@@jonathanzappala thanks for the answer 😃

[@heatherfell_oly]

Well spotted!

[@jonathanzappala]

@@heatherfell_oly I heard you on the women’s visual impaired marathon. You were far better than than the Australian commentators nbc had online for the women’s marathon who gave no emotion at all for the winners, especially Molly Sidel. It’s so much more enjoyable when the commentator gets excited for the Japanese woman winning the race in her home country, not just for an Australian who finishes in 19th place.

[@heatherfell_oly]

@@jonathanzappala Thank you. Commentating on the Paralympics was really quite an emotional experience but an honour to do.

[@John-cp9ez]

Being of the bald I would stick with toothless