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Navigating the buoys
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 2014-11-14 10:18 AM |
 221 |  Subject: Navigating the buoysThis was my first year of swimming in open water and I completed two sprints. I made the same mistake on both triathlons where I bee-lined it right to the buoy, and then lost momentum trying navigate around the buoy without getting stuck under it. Any advice on how close I should swim to the buoys to make smooth turns >=90 degrees? And should the turn be continuous or is it better to quickly stop, turn, and then start again? |
| 2014-11-14 3:05 PM in reply to: cassowary |
Pro 6582     Melbourne FL Gold member | Subject: RE: Navigating the buoys For sprints with a short leg to the 1st buoy I like to take a wider approach and then arc over to the Buoy. We have a sprint where the course is a large triangle 150yd out, 300 across, 150 back. For the 1st buoy I start out wide and make a straight line to the outside of the buoy aiming about 10-15' out from it. This lets all the sprinters & wishful sprinters go to the inside and it always bottlenecks so as I approach the buoy I can cut it if it clears out, or in most cases I have to approach it with an arc and go about 5-10' from it then cut it. 2nd Buoy I take the direct line and do a sharp crossover strokes to make the turn as it has mostly thinned out by then as the wishful sprinters have fallen off and the real sprinters are ahead. Ever hear about the corkscrew turn? I've did this once when it was all clear at the turn. X |
| 2014-11-14 7:43 PM in reply to: Donto |
| Member 587 | Subject: RE: Navigating the buoys Originally posted by Donto For sprints with a short leg to the 1st buoy I like to take a wider approach and then arc over to the Buoy. We have a sprint where the course is a large triangle 150yd out, 300 across, 150 back. For the 1st buoy I start out wide and make a straight line to the outside of the buoy aiming about 10-15' out from it. This lets all the sprinters & wishful sprinters go to the inside and it always bottlenecks so as I approach the buoy I can cut it if it clears out, or in most cases I have to approach it with an arc and go about 5-10' from it then cut it. 2nd Buoy I take the direct line and do a sharp crossover strokes to make the turn as it has mostly thinned out by then as the wishful sprinters have fallen off and the real sprinters are ahead. Ever hear about the corkscrew turn? I've did this once when it was all clear at the turn. X x2 I am not a great swimmer but I practiced the corkscrew & have been able to use it during races. I find it easier or perhaps smoother is the better word, to turn at the buoys using this technique. Things do get congested at the turns but I have found that if you stick close to the buoy & use the corkscrew the contact is minimal. Of course, as I stated I am not fast, so I am not in the first, tight pack of swimmers either. |
| 2014-11-14 8:04 PM in reply to: cassowary |
| Richland, Washington | Subject: RE: Navigating the buoys The idea is not to think of it as a hard 90 degree turn, unless you like getting kicked around. If you are not real keen on getting in close to the buoy due to all the people, I'd suggest taking it a bit wider and arcing the turn a bit. Honestly, depending on where you are in the group, the sheer number of people will help create a current that will propel you around the buoy. |
| 2014-11-14 10:23 PM in reply to: cassowary |
Member 256 Iowa City, Iowa | Subject: RE: Navigating the buoys I'll have to try that technique. I avoided the first bouy since it was so congested but the second one was more open so I did a wide-ish turn and that worked for me. I did almost run into the last bouy like the OP! :D |
| 2014-11-17 1:40 PM in reply to: ChemNerd23 |
| 221 | Subject: RE: Navigating the buoys Awesome advice, thanks everyone. I'll aim about 15' wide next time to keep on the outside of the congestion of that 1st buoy, and then aim in close for the 2nd buoy to try out that corkscrew turn! |
| 2014-11-22 6:34 PM in reply to: cassowary |
| 538 Brooklyn, New York | Subject: RE: Navigating the buoys Never saw this, but I can so see myself flipping to be blind to the buoy and knock'n someone out with a few hard rotating strokes in a crowded turn lol |
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