OT: swim better...

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

maybe not entirely OT as we're all out in the water so much, but had this phobia with swimming since forever and found this post on technique very helpful...

http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2008/08/13/total-immersion-how-i-learned-to-swim-effortlessly-in-10-days-and-you-can-too/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743253434?ie=UTF8&tag=offsitoftimfe-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0743253434

Happy Holidays!!

jcohenx · Since 28 Aug 2007 250 Posts Portland Obsessed

I've been trying in vain to get a Total Immersion clinic started in PDX for a couple of years now. The closest clinic that they will run is in Seattle and since it's a multi-day clinic it's a little expensive for me to commit with housing and registration fees. I encourage you to get on the website and ask them to setup a clinic in OR.

On a related note, every Summer I encourage all kiteboarders to sign up for the Roy Webster Cross Channel swim. It's a great excuse to tune up your basic swim skills and general conditioning while having an opportunity to do an easy open water swim right near where you would normally kiteboard, swim in the morning, have lunch, kite in the afternoon, make a day of it.

Kodiak · Since 01 Aug 2005 1114 Posts Slidey

Great post Colby! I used to be a competitive swimmer, but never much of a distance freestyler. My strokes were breastroke and backstroke. Just reading the blog helped me see several things that would definitely improve my efficiency in the water.

colby · Since 23 Apr 2005 613 Posts Celebrity Photographer

good stuff! Smile

working on this today, and fortunately not in the columbia. Wink

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Good for you guys
I was born in holland where we were all given swimming instruction in school
After the flood in 1952 where many drowned it was thought best to ensure all could swim
my first lesson was with my uncle who was a water polo player. I got the get in and play , Ok now the deep end and do whatever to stay afloat method of instruction before getting to school lessons!
After over 40 years of smoking and sporting combined , Ive given up the smokes and can now after 9 smoke free months , swim for an hour back and forth ( lengths ) I feel way safer now knowing I can of need save my old ass from drowning.
A couple of times I had to swim in after as a beginner the kite ended up in the water.
I'm not a competition swimmer but knowing how to swim is very important in this sport and knowing the distance you can swim even more important. I always wear a lifejacket because I like to go out a ways and need to feel safe because if you can't swim due to exhaustion you sink and we can't breathe water.
I see people without lifepreservers and tell them , jump in and sw to shore it's only a hundred yards or so it seems now , once your in the water struggling for air that hundred yards is a hundred miles . Learning to swim is great but know your limits too.
Again good for you all to overcome your fears and take the challenge .
I hope whoever reads this that can't swim does the same , it could save your life or anothers .
Jack