Open Water Swimming Madison Area

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Open Water Swimming Madison Area Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2016-06-26 4:05 PM

Extreme Veteran
476
100100100100252525
WI
Subject: Open Water Swimming Madison Area
It's been awhile since I did some open water swimming around Madison. Are the usual spots still okay - off Vilas Park beach? by the boat ramp east of Monona Terrace? Fireman's Park in Verona?

I could go north to Devil's Lake which seems to always be good.

Any others I'm missing? Just looking to swim 20-30min easy to moderate.

Thanks,
Don

2016-07-12 1:40 PM
in reply to: dar89

User image

New user
246
10010025
madison, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Open Water Swimming Madison Area
Anywhere on Wingra is un-swimable. The "swim"are at Vilas is ok but it has been mowed. The weeds in the rest of the lake are so bad you'll look like you got in a fight with a bear after swimming there.
Monona bay is still decent. I put in at Brittingham on Saturday 7/9 and swam out under the bridge and did a lap to the ski ramp. Once it hit the big lake it was quite nice. getting a little warm but still clean.
I've avoided Devil's Lake this year as it's got the "itch". I don't want to mess with that.
2016-07-12 10:41 PM
in reply to: pwoolson

Extreme Veteran
476
100100100100252525
WI
Subject: RE: Open Water Swimming Madison Area
Originally posted by pwoolson

Anywhere on Wingra is un-swimable. The "swim"are at Vilas is ok but it has been mowed. The weeds in the rest of the lake are so bad you'll look like you got in a fight with a bear after swimming there.
Monona bay is still decent. I put in at Brittingham on Saturday 7/9 and swam out under the bridge and did a lap to the ski ramp. Once it hit the big lake it was quite nice. getting a little warm but still clean.
I've avoided Devil's Lake this year as it's got the "itch". I don't want to mess with that.


Thanks for the info. I never thought of Brittingham, I had always used the ski boat ramp area.

I ended up going to Devil's Lake July 4th - bad idea due to crowds! - and the water was warm but clean and clear. I heard about the cases of swimmer's itch, but luckily we didn't have any issues.
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Open Water Swimming Madison Area Rss Feed  
RELATED POSTS

2011 Madison Open Water Swim on Aug 20 Now Open

Started by dar89
Views: 1511 Posts: 1

2011-04-22 10:08 PM dar89

Madison Open Water Swim (MOWS) : Official Thread Pages: 1 2

Started by dar89
Views: 4589 Posts: 38

2010-08-23 1:46 PM lisac957

Madison Open Water Swim event, Aug 21st

Started by dar89
Views: 1235 Posts: 1

2010-05-25 11:05 PM dar89

Madison Open Water Swim (7th Annual)

Started by stainofmind
Views: 1085 Posts: 15

2009-08-23 9:51 PM stainofmind

Open water swim - Madison

Started by Yendor 73
Views: 975 Posts: 3

2006-06-13 3:46 PM Yendor 73
RELATED ARTICLES
Open Water Breathing
date : May 30, 2016
author : Team BT
comments : 0
Open Water Training: Tips to Improve Your Breathing Technique
 
Avoiding Open Water Panic
date : April 29, 2016
author : CoachSarah
comments : 3
Learn how to prepare and avoid the cold water freak-out
4 Steps for Overcoming Fear of the Open Water
date : March 12, 2014
author : TeamMPI
comments : 1
The majority of new triathletes see the open water swim as their biggest stumbling block. Here are four steps to help you have a better swim experience in your first (or next) triathlon.
 
Open Water Swimming (OWS): M.A.P.S. to Get Ready
date : June 14, 2012
author : IndoIronYanti
comments : 4
MAPS is Meditation, Acclimatization, Practice, and Strategy, which are key for giving you the confidence and skills to execute the open-water swim in a triathlon well.
VIDEO: Beginner Open Water Swimming
date : September 15, 2011
comments : 0
Don't be scared for the swim! Gain more confidence for your open water swims with these tips
 
October 2008 Swim Training Chat with Coach Kevin Koskella
date : October 29, 2008
author : Tri Swim Coach
comments : 0
Triathlon swim training discussions on the pull, open water swimming all year, winter swim focus, bilateral breathing during a race and Ironman swim training in 6 weeks.
An OWS Moment: The Best Swim I Have Ever Had
date : September 3, 2006
author : TriDDS
comments : 1
Stroke after stroke, my pace was pulling me out into the middle of the lake quickly. The cover seemed to be getting thicker. But still in the distance, the little boathouse was my lighthouse.
 
Gear Review (DVD): Open Water Swimming – Skills, Techniques and Racing Tips
date : June 6, 2006
author : marmadaddy
comments : 0
The DVD assumes little-to-no experience with competitive swimming and starts off in the pool citing the need to build confidence in a controlled environment.