The 4 fears that prevent us from starting open water swimming. Let’s dispel them with an expert

The 4 fears that prevent us from starting open water swimming. Let’s dispel them with an expert

To feel comfortable, you need to remember just a few rules.

Vladimir Sheikin

Deputy General Director of IRONSTAR

Tells why open water swimming is not scary and what you need to be prepared for before a swim.

Not all swimming enthusiasts look forward to summer and the season of open water swimming. After all, there are many fears associated with them. Swimming in open water has its own nuances and is very different from starting in a pool. On the one hand, the feeling of freedom and space attract athletes, but on the other hand – murky water and waves scare even experienced swimmers. Let’s find out how to overcome fears and swim your first mile.

Fear #2: Getting lost in open space

In the pool we swim along a clear path in clear water, we always have a reference point in the form of a board. In open space there are no such landmarks, so if you find yourself in the middle of a lake or sea, there is a chance to lose control and panic. As with anything – the first place to start is to try swimming short distances in an open body of water. If you are an inexperienced swimmer, try not to swim further than 50 meters from the shore. If you are confident, choose any object as a reference point – buoys, trees, bridges – it will help you to build the right trajectory and give you a sense of control.

Fear #3: suffocating

Breathing techniques during open water swimming are different from those in a pool. It is important to be able to breathe on both sides – that is, when turning the head left and right, the swimmer should be able to inhale on both sides. This skill will come in especially handy if you want to compete. Waves and splashes from other competitors interfere with breathing on the “working” side, so it is important to adapt to these conditions. Also, the more confident you are in your breathing skills, the more comfortable you are psychologically – on long swims, changing sides will help redistribute effort. For confidence, you can start practicing breath-hold swimming – it’s great for dealing with fear in the most difficult situations. Start practicing these hypoxic workouts in the pool and then on an open body of water.

Fear #4: running into swimmers or other body of water inhabitants

An open body of water is a living organism. Unlike a swimming pool, there is no avoiding contact with both natural inhabitants and other swimmers when it comes to mass starts. Often beginners make the mistake of training alone. And then at the mass start they get into a “chopping block”, when at the start there is a risk of getting kicked or kicked by the opponents. To work out your resistance to such situations and not to be afraid of contact in open water, you can gather a group of like-minded people and train together. This way you will quickly get rid of your fear and become more confident if one of the inhabitants of the body of water decides to swim with you.

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