FIRST open water swim TGT!!!

From the open water training session, we can narrow down the points to note and train for specifically..

1) Panic reduction ( Mental preparation and open water practice )
2) Swim start ( mass start, porpoising )
3) Anerobic capacity
4) Sighting
5) Tide reading ( choosing point to star at start line and altering stroke direction during swim )
6) Breathing control (with or without wave)
7) Floating on back
8) Ability to swim straight without seeing
9) hypoxy swims ( helps in keeping calm when got pressed underwater and need to hold breathe for a while OR in times when taking a few strokes without breathing to overtake is needed )

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As I can't see your strokes, I won't comment individually..

In general, everyone has to practice reading the swells in the sea and learn to tweak our stroke timing to breathe only at the top of the swell..

We will also have to take note that when we practice sighting in the pool, we need to REALLY See AND even more importantly, REGISTER in our mind what we see in each sighting attempt.
Due to the rather "chaotic" nature of open water swim (experienced open water swimmer, I am not referring to you.. We can't simply dismiss the swim as a calm swim as it is indeed chaotic in a beginner's perception), if we don't put a conscious effort (body posture awareness for strokes, and eye to brain awareness for sighting in a low visibility situation), it will most probably Not be a pleasant swim experience for any first timer until it is actually over and you felt relieved to have SURVIVED it...

We'll aim to make this maiden race for many of us a pleasant and enjoyable experience (yes even in the swim!)!!!

Some specific ones I can think of..

James, good job for ditching the nose clip and ear plugs!! Good first open swim too!! Can see you got from shaky (at the start) to swimming freestyle head down at the end!! Really brave!! *salute!*

Wilson, being a fit young chap like us who went through fantastic Police training *ahem Ahe-BUL-L-m ahe-SHI-T-m ahem.. Sorry. :p * definitely has it's advantage.. BUT!!!
As you can see, there is a limit to the anaerobic capacity we have unfortunately we're unlike superhumans in Kona( I'll b there.. In 5 years time, definitely after my diving trip with lawlaw) =p.. So, please work your ass off to attain that stream lined position..

Marianne, please "propose" more *internal jokes..:p* when it's shallow like hell ya.. And when porpoising, please bring knee straight UP to chest whilst coming to vertical standing position to avoid knee contact with ground...

As of now, I will say everyone is quite fit but not race ready..
I am keen to organize another open water swim at ECP ( beach in front of carpark f2).

Please comment here with your available time slot in the WEEKDAYS..

Cheers,
KK