Swim Technique Training
Swimming is a technique based sport. The more efficient your technique, the easier (and quicker) your swimming will be. Steve Tarpinian of TTUniversity.com believes in improving the fundamental components of stroke mechanics before addressing anything else. These are the three foundational elements of freestyle technique that Tarpinian recommends all triathletes focus on, especially beginners:
- 1. Breathing. Exhale throughout your stroke and breathe to the side rather than the front. If your head jerks out of the water to grab a breath, try rolling your body onto its side rather than lifting your head out of the water to grab air.
- 2. Body position. Many triathletes struggle to keep their hips and legs high in the water. If you see your lower body sink below the surface, pressing your chest deep into the water will lift your hips higher in the water.
- 3. Pull. Optimise your propulsion by orienting your forearm vertically to grab as much water as possible. Focus on keeping your elbow high when your hand moves through the water. The fist drill, single arm drill and sculling drill can help you focus on this element of technique.
If you attend any of the Mersey Tri coached swim sessions, your swimming coach will be able to give you further advice and support with this.
Further information on this can be found on Triathlete Europe (http://triathlete-europe.competitor.com/2011/03/30/diy-swim-coaching/)
