Swimming

Swimming is the greatest single non-paddling thing you can do to improve your paddling, with the possible exception of surfing. This is a completely non-scientific opinion, of course.

#2 Sat, 03/31/2007 - 5:49pm

Do lots of technique work! Swimming is all about efficiency in the water, and so is paddling, so learn how to swim properly instead of working out. Even Olympians work on technique every day...

BTW I have taken many swimming drills and adapted them for paddling, or noticed that they are already paddling drills.

#4 Tue, 04/17/2007 - 7:58am

Some basic swim drills;

Catch-up

Works glide, body position, propulsion and maintaining a smooth kick. Take stroke and leave non-pulling arm in front of your face (superman style). return pulling hand to glide hand and count 1, 2 or 3 (more for stronger & taller swimmers with good technique) seconds before pulling again with other arm.

Single side strokes

Swim using only one arm while kicking normally. You can keep non-pulling arm up front (superman style) or at your side if you float very well and have a good kick. Alternately you can do 25-50 m each arm or 3 strokes left, 3 right, 6 alternating. I prefer alternating 3-6 each arm then 6-12 normal strokes.

Vertical kicking

In deep end float vertically (hold a kick board across your chest if you're a rock) with arms across chest - hands on opposite shoulder. Keep core activated and kick gently as if "walking in a dream". Corny description but it works! Alter body position to stay in one place- many new swimmers bend at the waste or throw shoulder back. A slow steady kick with an fairly small 30-40 cm amplitude is ideal. To little and you kick fast and fatigue quickly, too slow and you may sink...
Alternate by moving hands behind lower back (harder), extended down behind glutes (still tough), hands out of water (really tough), elbows out (really really tough), arms straight up above head (psycho level)

Finger drag

On recovery keep fingers on surface of water with elbow relaxed. can add an ear touch as you reach forward

Zipper drill

On recovery imagine your undoing a zipper from the exit to armpit. Visualize whatever garment you wish, just don't share it with anyone!

Kick 1-2-4-6

Alternate kicks per left-right arm cycle from 1 (1/2 kick each side) to 6 (3 kicks per side)

Breathing

Alternate breathing from 3 breaths per stroke (easy distance balanced stroke for pretty good swimmers) to 4, then 5, then 6, etc. Teaches you to relax as you get hypoxic AND breath out while counting strokes (reduced CO2 reduces urge to breath).

Side to side

Pull once and then kick 3-6 times while on your side, repeat with pull on other side.

Strap

Hold ankles together with rubber strap (1/2 bike inner tube tied together) and swim with no legs. Big core learning curve! Novices may need pull buoy to float/move.

Sculling

Add additional sculling movements to stroke to learn hand angle control and slow powerful stroke.

#6 Tue, 04/17/2007 - 1:46pm

good advice AlanC. I swim approximately 4, or 5mal a week and I can explain straight of reading off your directions, which I would fight.

guter Rat AlanC. Ich schwimme ungefähr 4, oder 5mal eine Woche und ich können gerade vom Ablesen deiner Richtungen erklären, die ich kämpfen würde.

good advice AlanC. I swim about 4 or 5 times a week and I can tell just from reading your directions I'd be struggling.

#8 Tue, 04/17/2007 - 10:25pm