Open water swimming
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Open water swimming is an activity in which people swim in outdoor bodies of water such as oceans, bays, lakes and rivers.
In the first edition of the modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896, the swimming competition was held in open water. The triathlon, which involves an open water swim segment of 1500 metres, made its Olympic debut at the Sydney Games in 2000, while the 10 kilometre marathon swim was held at the Olympic level for the first time at the Beijing Games in 2008. Open water races of 5, 10 and 25 kilometres are held in the annual General Fina World Championships. Open water races usually has freestyle as the rule, meaning that crawl is used by skilled swimmers.
There are over 1,400 competitive open water swims around the world ranging from 200 meters to 88 kilometers.[1] Although some races are governed by national or international governing bodies, many races have their own rules and traditions. For example, some races allow wetsuits; other are relays with 2-6 people; some are point-to-point races and others are loop courses. Some races require escort boats, kayakers or paddlers; some races have in-the-water starts and finishes and others have onshore starts and finishes.
Major open water events that attract international competitors include the Rottnest Channel Swim and a rare urban open water race the Round the Castle Swim in the canals of downtown Copenhagen, Denmark. In order to promote mass participation open water swimming in the UK, the Great Swim series was inaugurated in 2008.
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[edit] Equipment
No equipment is needed for open water swimming. Many choose to swim with a swim suit and goggles. A brightly colored swim cap is recommended to enhance visibility and may be required for some organized swimming events and races.
The use of wetsuits is controversial in open water swimming since they provide a competitive advantage. This is due primarily to increased buoyancy and improved heat retention. Some open water swimmers, in fact, believe that wearing a wetsuit is contrary to the spirit of the sport. Many competitive open water swim events either do not allow the use of wetsuits, put wetsuit-clad swimmers in a separate category, or make swimmers ineligible for recognition and awards. Typically, a non-heat retaining swimsuit, goggles, and swim cap constitute the entirety of the competitive open water swimming ensemble. Non-competitive open water swimmers will wear more, or less, according to individual preference and local custom.
In the sport of triathlon, by contrast, participants are expected, though not required, to wear a wetsuit because of the competitive advantage it brings and because of safety concerns related to the generally larger number of entrants. Competitive rule 4.4 of USA Triathlon, the sport's governing body in the United States, states that "each age group participant shall be permitted to wear a wet suit without penalty in any event sanctioned by USA Triathlon up to and including a water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit."[2]
[edit] Techniques
Several techniques assist competitive swimming over large areas of open water.
Sighting. When covering large distances, swimmers may head off course due to current, waves, wind, and poor visibility. Typically, buoys are stationed periodically across a large expanse provide guidance. However, buoys are often invisible due to interference from choppy water and reduced visibility through goggles. Swimmers are encouraged to 'triangulate' by looking for two aligned, easily visible objects on land that are directly behind the destination (such as the end of a pier as it lines up with a hilltop), and to make sure they continue to appear aligned during the race. An experienced swimmer will regularly breathe forward to sight the target, forming a pattern of sighting on every third of fourth breath.
Buoyancy. When swimming in water with different salt concentrations, the body floats at different angles. The lungs create enough flotation for most swimmers to float, but the legs typically still sink, causing the body to angle downward. The higher the salt content of the body of water, the higher the legs will float. A wetsuit also creates this effect. When in saltwater or wearing a wetsuit, the reach stroke can enter the water sooner to compensate. Also in salt water or with wetsuits, far less use of the legs is required than would be the case for swimming in a pool due to the reduced need to raise the legs. This is an extra advantage in triathlon where the legs are spared for the other events.
Drafting. Drafting is the technique of following another swimmer so closely that water and wind resistance are reduced. When swimming across the wind, swimmers can benefit from swimming slightly downwind, and at waist height to a stronger swimmer. In calmer conditions, or when facing the wind, swimmers can benefit from 'toe touching' - swimming very closely behind a stronger swimmer.
Beach starting/exiting. In shallow water, it is quicker to high-step into the water and at hip depth, begin dolphining through the water. Before the race, check the nature of the bottom to determine if it is rippled, which can cause an ankle sprain if you high-step across an uneven surface. Dolphining is to dive forward hands first into the water and angle down to the bottom, press against the sand to begin coming up, and dive up and over the water again. In heavy surf conditions, dive deep and grab sand to get under a crashing wave. Upon entry and when circling buoys, swimmers will often be in a very crowded environment and may be jostled as swimmers climb over one another to get to open space and create an advantage. On the exit, a significant advantage can be gained from body surfing as far up the beach as possible, and then high-stepping across the shallows.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- United States Open Water Swimming Association (USA)
- River and Lake Swimming Association (UK)
- Outdoor Swimming Society (UK)
- Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (USA)
- US Open Water Swimming Connection (USA)
- Vancouver Open Water Swim Association (CAN)
- The Water is Open (USA)
- Vansbrosimningen (SWE)
- Triathlon Swimming
