Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Most swimmers compete in open water swimming competitions with a swim cap. Some competitive swimmers want to make sure their swim caps stay on their heads. For those with long hair, not using treatment or conditioner the day/night before the race is one way to keep their swim caps on. Others want to
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Depending on the race and finish structure (over a timing mat on the beach or at a vertical finish pad in the water), transponders (or timing chips) can be worn on swimmer's ankles or wrists during an open water swim. Generally speaking, if the finish is done vertically (by running or walking over a timing
Post-race bedlam with Andrew Gemmell congratulating Ferry Weertman with Ous Mellouli and Brendan Casey meeting the race officials Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. The crazy situation that started to unravel at the final turn buoy at the men's 10 km USA Swimming National Open Water Swimming Championships had its roots during the pre-race
Photo of the Rad Band photo courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Triathletes and open water swimmers often wear transponders and all types of timing devices on their wrists and ankles during competitions. But no athlete in open water swimming history will wear an ankle device for as long as adventurer Benoît Lecomte will. The transoceanic
Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Open water swimmers often wear transponders when competing in professional marathon races and other open water swimming competitions around the world. The transponders are often worn on their wrists when there is an in-the-water finish and other times worn on their ankles when there is an on-the-shore
Why Open Water Swimmers Get Slimy, Slick And Slithery Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Right before the FINA World Championship races, the elite athletes get ready by putting on their skin-tight swimsuits, adjusting their goggles, getting body marked, putting on their transponders, and greasing up. But greasing up is a bit different among
Whenever there is a close race, fans and spectators occasionally wonder, "Why can’t in-the-water open water swims have the same type of timing systems like pool swimming?" There are practical reasons: 1. The finish of an open water race is on a floating pontoon sitting upon a dynamic body of water. That is, the finish is moving up and down as well as left
