Learn or Improve Open Water Swimming Skills
at WeirWood Reservoir
May to September 2021
Swimming in open water is a very different experience to swimming in a pool. Many competent pool swimmers find the initial transition to open water quite challenging. If you are new to open water swimming and have just signed up for your first triathlon, or want to improve your open water skills, you may benefit from some specific open water coaching.
There are some essential skills that will make your open water swim, especially in a race, much more enjoyable and effective.
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Acclimatisation to the water
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Managing anxieties, controlling breathing
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Sighting
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Bilateral breathing
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Swimming in a group in close proximity to others
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Mass/race starts
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Turning at buoys
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Drafting
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Where to position yourself on the start line
Competitive Open Water Swimmers/Triathletes
These open water sessions can be tailored to the needs of triathletes and competitive open water swimmers. If there are particular skills you wish to focus on, we can build a session around these on a 1:1 or small group basis. Some bigger group sessions for beginner or intermediate abilities will be held at Weir Wood Reservoir this summer.
If you feel you need some work on your general swim technique, then a separate pool-based session with full video analysis over and under the water could help you in the long term. You will see how you are currently swimming and what improvements you could make to save energy on your triathlon swim and have fresh legs for the bike and run.
Recreational/Wild Swimmers
As a recreational swimmer, you can enhance the enjoyment of your swim by learning to swim in a straight line
and sight properly without disrupting the rhythm of your stroke. You may wish to only swim breaststroke
outdoors so you can enjoy the scenery more. You may love the idea of swimming outdoors but feel anxious
about swimming in a wetsuit for the first time or swimming without the lines on the pool floor to follow or being
able to rest after 25m, as with a swimming pool. Learning some of the above skills will help build your confidence
and enjoyment.
Open Water Swimming Skills Coaching Options at WeirWood Reservoir
In the current COVID-19 situation with social distancing rules, only 1-2-1 coaching sessions are available
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1-2-1 Coaching with above water video analysis* - £50
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2-2-1 Coaching with above water video analysis* - £40 each
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Introduction to Open Water Swimming Skills group sessions (max. 6 swimmers) - £25 each
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Intermediate Open Water Skills group sessions (max. 6 swimmers) - £25 each
*Annotated video clips and a written summary are sent to swimmers following the 1-2-1/2-2-1 sessions.
Any video clips taken from the group sessions can be sent to each swimmer, upon agreement from all group members. For example, where the group practised sighting skills, swimming in close proximity to one another, turning at buoys, etc. This video footage is a useful reminder of what to continue practising after the session.
Coaching Sessions at WeirWood Reservoir are available by appointment:
Tuesdays 4.00pm - 5.00pm, 5.15pm - 6.15pm, 6.30pm - 7.30pm
Thursdays 4.00pm - 5.00pm, 5.15pm - 6.15pm, 6.30pm - 7.30pm
Saturdays 8am - 9am, 9.15am -10.15am, 10.30am -11.30am
To book a coached session between May and September, please contact Marianne:
07904 579758
All swimmers having coaching have to join as a member of WeirWood Swimming for the season (£10 adults/£5 Under 16s)
via the WeirWood Swimming website and pay the entry fee (£6 adults/£3 Under 16s) on the day.
Click here for the Weir Wood Swimming website.