For example, for the upcoming Huntington Beach Pier Swim, Matt and Hank know that specific pool workouts will give their athletes an advantage.
“When you come back into the surf, your heart is beating at over 150 beats per minute, but you have to catch a wave and then kick all-out with your head down. Sometimes, you have no opportunity to breathe,” said Matt. “In these pier races, we sprint for 100 meters out through the surf, diving under the waves, driving up your heart rate and sending you into oxygen debt. Then you swim about 800 meters around the pier at a good pace, setting up your bodysurfing finish where you have to keep your head down and kick hard to gain the most out of the wave. So we need to prepare for that.”
One pool workout example is 5 x 300 with the first and last lap being no-breathers.
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.