Railroading To The Finish In The Open Water
As the weather starts to warm in Northern Hemisphere, many open water swimmers near coastlines, lake shores and river banks are finding this to be the time to get out of the pool and into the open water. If you’re going to be doing races where waves are a variable, try practicing your finishes by railroading to the finish line.
Railroading is when you use the power of ocean swells to push you forward as you head toward shore.
As the ocean swells build up behind and beneath you, increase your kick and stroke rate, sprinting in conjunction with the power of the swell to gain an incremental boost from the swell power and direction. As the swell passes you, then reduce your kick and stroke rate back to their normal cadence. Once you’ve reached the breaking waves, do some body surfing and dolphining into the beach.
Copyright © 2011 by Open Water Source
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.
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