OWS vs. Pool , I want the truth

I think its 90-99% mental (but thats me). However, if the water is really rough that day, it becomes a mental and physical problem because you won't be used to it.

Good luck.

So you are telling me to get in that lake this weekend and next weekend. I've only got 2 more weekends until my Tri. (my stomach flutters when I say that)    

Louisiana people - is the lake the best place to practice OWS, where at in the lake exactly (I know in the water, but where should I get in the water at)?

and see my first instinct (I think) will be to slow down and let them all pass me up so I can have the whole gulf to myself.

Not totally mental.  Currents and sighting make swimming harder.  Weaving around people makes swimming harder.  Getting clocked on the head makes swimming harder.  Most of us are not 'freaking out' as much as we are whining   The people who freak out about OWS generally (no one harp on me for generalizing please) have some kind of fear of the water, known or not.  In that case, it's more mental.

There are two schools of thought...if you think you are going to freak out in open water, you might want to try it first.  If you are super comfortable in the water and you think your freak factor is low, I don't see anything wrong with trying it out on race day.  You can practice sighting, drafting, and some other open water things in the pool.  My VERY FIRST open water swim was a 1/2 Ironman.  I'd never swam open water before AT ALL unless you count trips to the beach as a kid.  I survived.  Though it was a nice calm lake and not the ocean

Wetsuit legal?  If it is, you are a nut if you don't throw your wetsuit on and try that in the pool first.

Yep, line up in the back, to the side, unless you're prepared to mix it up in the group grope.

Why not swim in the Mississippi? Come on...

I'd like to make it to my first Tri disease free.

I get a free membership at my school's gym, and it's always lap swimming hours, no families there.  My sister did offer to throw things at me while I was swimming though, to "help me out"

The beach at Panama City Beach are pretty clear which is one factor why I wanted this race, plus the website said that usually the water is pretty calm at that time of the morning. Where at in the lake do you suggest? Northshore or something? I don't have a clue.

Sorry, for some reason I thought you were from New Orleans. Lake Pontratrain. I am not sure about open for swimming beaches, I'll have to ask around. There was one that the Tri I saw was using but I'm not too sure about how public that is.

The race will be 630 feet out into the gulf, then turn 90degrees right 500 feet and then turn 90degrees right straight to the beach for another 630.

Alright!  I can definitely contribute on this one!

First of all, GET IN THE LAKE!!  Suck it up!  Yes, it's icky, green and nasty, but if you can survive that, you'll be much more prepared for PCB.  I went practice 2 weeks b/f Abitaman and am so thankful I did.  Let me list 4 reasons why you should:

1. You MUST practice sighting!  Focusing on that Natal's Swim Shop sign on the wall at UNO isn't exactly the same (hee hee)

2. "Calm water" is a relative term.  The lake looked really calm to me on race day, but get out there with other bodies and it turns into a washing machine!  And what if PCB is NOT calm that day?  You may have to adjust your breathing to accomodate for waves (natural ones or ones that comes from support staff on waverunners and the like). It's kinda hard to breathe when water's coming overhead.

3. Getting over that initial fear will allow you to focus on the other variables of the race- your stroke and breathing, your competitors, sighting, etc.

4. Fighting current is not easy.  You're not only swimming in a straight line, you're fighting currents that are trying to take you laterally (if you're not doing straight out and back). 

Now, WHERE and WHEN.  If you go along Lakeshore Dr. going towards Metairie, immediately after the overpass, there's a parking lot on your right side.  On the other side of the levee is where people swim.  There are 19 pilings in the water. If you swim out and back around those (following the shore) it's around 1/2 mile/ 800 m.  You just climb very carefully down the seawall (slimy!) and wade in until you can't touch anymore.  You cannot touch bottom, so that'll get you used to deep water.  Wednesdays, lots of people go out there between 4:30 and 7:00.  NEVER GO ALONE!!!  That being said, I'm volunteering to go out there with you next Wed. if you're game!  I'd love to offer my support.  My hubby came out there and didn't even put his pinky toe in, so I was on my own!

Believe me, it's mental AND physical!   Do it for your safety and peace of mind.