Open water swim rescue?
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deepbluex posted 1 year ago.
I've seen this:
http://www.triaids.com/index.html
it's a belt like rescue device that goes around your waist.
I haven't seen anyone use one before. For training out in the lake, you could always wear an ankle leash (like a surfboard leash) and tow either a rescue buoy or a boogey board.
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cayman posted 1 year ago.
Sometimes races will sponsor open water swims before the event, check their website or email the RD for information. Also, check with local tri clubs or usms.org for scheduled open water swims in you area.
The swim safe device link
Happy swimming.:)
john
Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.
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Ironmom posted 1 year ago.
The swimsafe device looks really interesting, thanks for posting those links! In general, most people I know just go out and swim, often with a group of people. I've been open-water swimming in lakes, rivers, oceans since childhood and so it's something I'm pretty comfortable doing, though I always try to be respectful of the inherant risks. I did get a leg cramp once in a lake, and despite the fact that I do tend to sink rapidly, I was able to make it to shore. I like swimming in my wetsuit when possible, because the added bouyancy gives a bit of a safety margin at times like that (though in some places in the ocean, it might make one look more seal-like and thus more appealing to sharks, so I suppose it depends on where you're swimming).
I did have one woman triathlete I trained who drilled a hole in a kickboard, and tied a string from that to the straps on her bathing suit and towed it behind her, which seemed like a reasonable idea. I've had people kayak or canoe next to me at times, and that is always nice, but not usually practical. Plenty of times I'm just all alone out there. I think my husband, my mom, and my kids would all be much happier if I got the swimsafe thingie, so I might just have to give it a try.
Blue Skies, -Robin-
http://ironmom.blogspot.com/
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usasportstrain posted 1 year ago.
It's a great little device and inflates super fast.
Towing a small flotation behind would be good too, but I'm not sure what the result would be on a windier day. Would it drift and get tangled around the legs?
Another thing to do is (in a lake) swim back and forth, just outside the swim area boueys where a lifeguard is patrolling (with their permission). Try to hug the rope as you swim. It's good practice for controlling swim direction.
Shea
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sldotter posted 1 year ago.
i knew a guy I used to train with had three 2 liter bottles duct taped together and tied a string around them. Then he tied the string to his waist with about 5 feet length. If he got in trouble it was enough to help him stay up.
Trevor Douglas YOU ARE AN IRONMAN!
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TBRAVO posted 1 year ago.
One of the best times I ever had was when I took my two sons out with me and gave them both a huge truck tire inner tube. They had a blast and I got my open water swim workout in. As mentioned above, if alone it’s wise to swim parallel to the shore in fairly shallow water. I can’t speak for ocean swims as I leave in AZ, but I have seen lifeguard rescue cans at kiefer.com for about $50...then you could look like David Hasselhoff..wait a minute isn’t that another post? :D
- T
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deepbluex posted 1 year ago.
tbravo - that is a good point - if you're in a lake, you can get a full freestyle stroke happening in 3-4 feet of shallow water. No need to even go too deep.
Out in the ocean, it's kind of nice to swim past the breakers to find some calmer water. A swimming buddy is always best. Most lifeguards around the beaches here will whistle and signal you to swim closer to shore if you are alone and get out too far. If you're obviously part of a swim "squadron" - then they will leave you alone.
I've been wondering. Are there any products out in the tri world that can assist you if you get in trouble in the water?
Lets say you want to do a mile lake or ocean swim and you develop a cramp or something and just can't make the shore. I know you should not open swim alone but say your partner doesn't realize your in trouble until it's too late.
Is there a vest or some kind of life preserver invention that you can swim with that will inflate in a moments notice? One that's not too bulky or hinders your stroke too.
Finally how do people practice open water swimming? I don't live near an ocean, just a lake, and would love to practice in the lake but am afraid of doing it alone. I'm trying to convince my wife to ride in a kayak beside me but she's not willing to do it. Maybe she wants my insurance money :)
Thanks for the help
Andy