tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339112218238375171.post3477565416677533030..comments2024-03-21T09:30:15.501-07:00Comments on Swim Avila - Open Water Swimming: Sunday, July 8. 2012Rob Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04352631516200754232noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339112218238375171.post-87063133360327247302012-07-11T10:26:28.306-07:002012-07-11T10:26:28.306-07:00We are always happy to have swimmers join us who a...We are always happy to have swimmers join us who are interested in trying open water swimming. I have some questions and recommendations about gear that will help you have an enjoyable experience.<br />How much swimming do you do? The cold water, current, waves and the possibility of wind and chop make swimming in open water more strenuous than an equivalent distance in a pool. Plus there is no stopping, lane lines, bottom or turns, until you get out. It is important for a swimmer to be very comfortable in the ocean and to have a good sense of their own limits. I recommend that a first time ocean swimmer find a place to get in the water that allows him to swim close to the shore, back and forth along a short course is fine. That way it is an easy swim to the beach if you decided that you are no longer having fun. It is always advisable to swim with one or more buddies. There are open water groups in the bay area (The Dolphin Club) and Monterrey that you can contact and arrange to join one of their regular swims. For the Alcatraz crossing you will need to be able to navigate and be prepared for rough water. You can only gain this experience beforehand in the ocean. This time of the year the water temperature will be about 55 to 57 degrees. You will need a full 2 to 3 mm wet suit. You need to have swum in the wet suit before your event in order to get used to how it feels. Even with a wet suit it feels cold getting in so you need to have done enough open water swims to have confidence that yo will be comfortable. When we have someone new to ocean swimming join us at Avila it takes then 3 or 4 swims before they get comfortable with the cold,even if they are a strong swimmer. Being 'out in the ocean', navigating and the mouth fulls of salt water can easily be more they you are comfortable dealing with even if you are a strong swimmer. You need goggles, regular pool goggles are OK and I'd recommend wearing two caps. A lot of us wear neoprene caps to extend our time in the water.<br />You are welcome to join us at Avila Beach on a Wednesday evening at 5:30 or a Sunday morning at 11.Nielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12088049651967129496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5339112218238375171.post-87894438380528566622012-07-09T15:32:39.579-07:002012-07-09T15:32:39.579-07:00Hello Niel!
Love your Blog and photos of Swim...Hello Niel!<br /><br /> Love your Blog and photos of Swim Avila! How can a new person acclimate him/herself into Ocean water swimming? My goal is to swim off San Francisco "Alcatraz Swim" without freezing to death. My threshold for cold is not so great, any advice from you would be helpful.<br /><br /><br /> Jason E.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com