STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY NEAL HENDERSON
Tom Petty’s song “Into the Great Wide Open” isn’t about open water swimming, but it sure would be a fitting title for the sport. The goal in open water swimming is not to end up like the “rebel without a clue” that Tom sings about, but to make your open water swimming excursions safe, fast, and enjoyable.
Most triathlon competitions involve open water swimming for the swim portion of the event, though some triathlons take place in swimming pools. The first triathlon that I ever raced had a pool swim, but since then I have swum in oceans, lakes, rivers, bays, and even ponds! Other reasons to become comfortable with open-water swimming include preparing for and competing in long-distance and open water swim competitions; swimming for health and fitness; scuba diving and snorkeling; and participation in surf sports such as surfing, body surfing, Boogie boarding, and so on. Regardless of why you get into open water swimming, it’s a great life skill to be able to swim in variable water conditions.
First, let it be known that swimming for humans is an unnatural act. We don’t have gills like fish, so we must lift or turn our heads out of the water to breathe. Comfort in and around water is a learned skill that can be developed. I used to teach adult learn-to-swim classes to non-swimmers. One method I used so that 
folks could become aware of their fear or discomfort in the water was to have them check their heart rate standing outside far away from the pool first, then while standing next to the pool, and then finally while standing in waist-deep water. Those who were uncomfortable with water often saw their heart rate double from the first to third check. If you can’t relax, it’s difficult to swim at all. Being relaxed and fluid is necessary to swim well.
With many other gross motor activities, just spending time doing them will help you perform better, but this is not the case with swimming. It is imperative to have good swimming stroke technique before venturing out into open water. There are a number of resources for good swim instruction for adults through places such as a local YMCA, fitness center, or health club, and also through the US Masters Swimming organization (www.usms.org).
Once you can comfortably swim in a pool non-stop for several minutes, you can start considering swimming in open water. Having confidence in your swim fitness will also lead to less anxiety in open water situations.
The first rule of open water swimming is to never swim alone. Even the most accomplished swimmer can have a cramp or a problem in the water. An option if you can’t find a partner to swim with you is to have someone paddle or drive a boat or 
other watercraft alongside you. Once you have a partner or escort, you need to determine whether it is actually safe to swim. Weather conditions such as lightning, rough surf, and strong currents and tides are all reasons to avoid swimming in open water. Stick with areas that are legal for open swimming like state or local parks and beaches. Of course, it is always safest to swim in areas with a lifeguard on duty, but even that does not guarantee your safety.
Once you have a good place to swim and a great partner, it’s time to be sure that you have the right equipment. You should have goggles for different light conditions—clear, yellow, or orange for cloudy or low-light swims, and dark lenses for bright, sunny days. Next, a good, tight-fitting swimsuit is a must, and a highly visible swim cap is also a good idea. For cooler water temperatures, a wetsuit is not just a luxury, it can be a necessity. Swim-specific wetsuits are superior to surf or water skiing wetsuits in many ways. One of the biggest improvements in recent years for swim-specific wetsuits is the differing thicknesses of materials now used in areas that need great flexibility such as shoulders, elbows, and knees.
Once you are well-equipped, it’s time to get in the water. Contrary to popular belief, in cold conditions it’s important to slowly get used to the water and warm up gently. This is especially true in racing situations. Jumping immediately into cold water is likely to cause breathing difficulties which could result in a panic situation.
Several techniques exist to help you swim faster in open water. The first is sighting, which is done to keep you swimming in a straight
line. Since there is no lane line to follow in open water, you need to lift your head occasionally to sight–or look—where you are going. You should use large, visible stationary landmarks on the shore or horizon as checkpoints or sighting points. Ideally, you should lift your head only as high as you need to in order to see your landmark and then turn your head as you take a breath after first sighting. An accomplished open water swimmer might sight only every four to eight strokes. Sighting too often will tire you quickly, as it is much harder to swim with your head out of the water. This will also tighten up your back and hamstrings, a real problem when you’re competing in a triathlon and have yet to bike and run.
The next technique is called drafting. Simply put, this is following someone who might be just a little faster than you. By swimming either directly behind, or just to the other swimmer’s side, you can save as much as 6 to 10 percent of the energy necessary to swim that pace. The most important part of drafting is to be sure that the person that you draft is actually swimming a straight course. If not, the energy savings might not be worth the extra distance you need to swim. If you draft to the side, try to stay right near the person’s hip and be sure to put yourself on the side that you don’t breathe to. As an example, if you like to breathe to your right side, then you should swim just to the right side of the person. If not, you are likely to get some extra bumps or water splashing into your mouth as you turn to breathe.
One final technique for open water swimming in competitions relates to seeding yourself at the start of the swim. If you are a strong swimmer, it is appropriate to start toward the front. If you are proficient but not top-class, you should start toward the outside front, so that you have some free water if it gets a little crazy for you. For anyone, but especially for novice swimmers, the worst place to be is right in the middle of the pack. There is no safety in numbers there, just chaos. The best place to start if you’re not a strong swimmer is at the back of the pack. If you have an in-water start, you should tread water--preferably leaning forward a little so that you can keep some clear water just in front of your face. If not, when the gun goes off and you go from a vertical treading to a horizontal swimming position you are likely to get more unwelcome contact.
Following these relatively simple guidelines can help you not just survive, but actually thrive in open water swimming.
is the manager of the Sport Science
program at the Boulder Center
for Sports Medicine. He is an elite
coach, exercise physiologist, and
retired professional triathlete.
www.bch.org/sportsmedicine