9 Open Water Swimming Tips | Swim Skills For Beginners

Here are GTN's top 9 open water swim skills for beginners. Open water swimming can be a bit daunting for beginner triathletes however, with these skills, you can learn to love the freedom of swimming outdoors!

Open water swimming can be a bit daunting for new triathletes but once you take the plunge we guarantee you'll enjoy it! Mark and Heather are at the BEST Swim Centre in Mallorca and bring your their top tips for beginning your open water journey.

Here are their 9 top tips for open water swimming:

- Equipment: Buy a wetsuit that fits well to prevent fighting it or carrying lots of water in it. Make sure you can be seen with a bright coloured hat and ensure you have a good set of googles to be able to see the course and any dangers ahead.

- Safety: This is paramount in open water swimming. Swim at a proper venue with water testing and make sure to swim with someone else or have a spotter on the side. Also, familiarise yourself with the course entry and exit point before jumping in.

- Warm up: It can be difficult to warm up when the water is cold so limbering up before can make a big difference. A few press ups and arm swings will suffice.

- Climatization: Sit on the edge with your feet in the water and splash some on your face to get your body used to the cold water.

- Lie on your back: Enter the water slowly to allow your body to get used to the temperature change. A good way to relax is lie on your back and take several deep breaths to control your breathing.

- Rescue: Should you find yourself in difficulty in deep water then roll on to your back and wave to catch someone attention.

- Confidence: Build confidence by taking it one step at a time. Step one is to fully submerge whilst blowing bubbles do ensure you can control your breathing.

- Start slowly: Don't rush in to a long swim, especially if you are new to the open water. Swim to a buoy a short distance away, then take a break before continuing.

- Finally.... ENJOY IT!

Music: BF - HIP HOP - UPBEAT BRIGHT; EINAR ERLANDER - INSIDE ALWAYS RAINS.

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[wooter_l]

For cold water the best advice I got for getting in was to put your face in the water and blow bubbles to get breathing under control. It's good this tip was in the video!

[csm]

If you waved at me while laying on your back in the water relaxed, I would probably just wave back casually. Not anymore ^^

[adventure_hannah]

This was an awesome video! I was lucky enough to get in a few open water swims before my first triathlon. The water was nothing as nice as what you guys have in this video, though. In my practice and the triathlon, the water was so muddy and dark I couldn't even see my hands! The practice really paid off though, because my first swim I was thrown off by "wait, there's no walls, there's no lane markers! It's so cold! It's so deep! I CAN'T SEE!" But by the the time I got to the tri, I was expecting it all and was at least somewhat confident. Thanks GTN!

[lisapet]

What a wonderful job the casting team made for presenters selection!

[clydea.hutchisoniv]

I might need to start open water swimming more since the pools closed here:(

[LuoRutina]

Safety buoys are fantastic - they provide some extra visibility, flotation if needed, and you'll have somewhere to store your keys and stuff. I've hung on to mine during cramps, really glad I had it then.

[hellostevevideo]

Great tips heather and mark! I went on a mass learning journey starting about a year ago to get ready for ironman 70.3 and you guys have some great pointers here that resonate. Addl ones to consider for next top skills are bilateral breathing in case of waves/swells, swimming amongst a pack of competitors, swim buddy (safety buoy for solo open water swims), and body glide for wetsuit chaff avoidance:)

[gcn]

Great stuff. We recon every single member of the GCN presenting team could do with this advice.

[mrdennis]

This is huge! Do not underestimate the shock of cold water. I agree that having proper equipment is essential. Not having goggles or not being able to see is huge on races that have cutoff times. Please heed my advice: never think that if you trained hard in a pool you can tackle one or two miles on open water. The importance of calming down and breathing is vital. A wetsuit should fit, no strain on the neck and shoulders and you should be able to breathe in it.

[robg]

only been swimming properly for about a year. got faster in the pool and and done a couple of open waters. set myself a 2017 target of Alcatraz swim in San Fran 30 days to go. Great to see a good UKtri channel with regular content. rob

[nicolebench]

Thanks for the video. Amazing tips and advice.
You're really sympathetic :)
I want MORE of these videos!

[phillwhitlam]

Can only swim in open water at the moment, no good indoor pools big enough or near enough. Some great tips I'll take on board. The lying on your back is a great one, always find it a problem in winter, no matter how many times you swim it still takes your breath away. Another great video guys.

[ODYSSEYOpenWater]

Great tip video. Thank you for spreading this wonderful activity!

[cjlonewolf]

Fantastic tips! Hoping newer triathletes watch so they get comfortable in the water. Well done GTN!

[petercacchioli]

Perfect timing. I have my first 1/2 coming up in 2 weeks and the swim is my #1 worry. Thanks for this

[filipemarques]

Great work GTN team! Thumbs up for you guys!

[mass]

🎼 Roll yourself on your back
Put your hands in the air
And wave them like you just don't care 🎵🎶🎵

[hafidboudar]

1-enjoy it
2-if are in trouble flout on your back and wave by your hand
3-warm up
4-have spotter never swim alone
5- suitable wet suite
6-glasses
7-don't go for the long run directly
8-blowing bubbles for confident
 9- drop you body temperature slowly feet in water splash some water on you face

[Loving-waves]

Excellent information. Very helpful.Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[orbitcomet]

Most important comes first, Million of thanks for such vital information.
I am crazy for shore open swimming place.