Part 2 of a series on Tower 26 ocean swimming workouts is courtesy of WOWSA, California.
Gerry Rodrigues of Tower 26 in Southern California is a coach who pays attention to the myriad details of the sport of open water swimming.
During his early morning workouts on Santa Monica Beach, Coach Rodrigues asks the lifeguards to leave the lights on in their jeeps onshore in order to help guide the swimmers and triathletes back into shore as they train in their rectagular out-and-back course in the ocean.
He also splits the big group of swimmers into smaller groups, separated by swimmers’ speed. Each group has 1-2 group leaders and safety captains in yellow swim caps who guide the swimmers in and out of the surf and around the turn buoys. Lifeguards are also on the beach with their lights on in the car while Coach Gerry is constantly on the outlook with binoculars on shore.
It is quite a workout at 6 am in the Pacific Ocean.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.
