Know what to expect
The more you know about the course, chances are you will be more comfortable and better yet, have a great swim. Having a confident swim strategy is the best way to start your race.
Before you enter the water for any open water swimming, you’ll need to evaluate and understand the course you’ll be swimming.

A course evaluation includes:

• Water temperature (cold, warm)
• Waves (size, direction)
• Body of water bottom (sand, mud, rocks)
• Course layout

Each person can tolerate different water temperatures. Once you know what it is, you can decide whether to wear a wetsuit or not and how long you may need to properly warm-up. Wearing a wetsuit is a personal preference. You need to find out what temperatures your body can handle and dress accordingly. In cooler water temperature the body will need a longer amount of time to warm-up.

Waves can effect how hard the swim may be and can give you an idea of the way and direction the water is moving. This information will help you in your swim strategy. How hard would you have to work to cross the wave line? And what is the swim line that you should swim so you can use the current to swim faster?

The water floor bed can have various objects and be made up of different materials. Before you get in, find out if the bottom is sand, mud, rocky, has holes, or even dirty. Do not wait to the start of the race to find that out. This is true for the start area as well as the exit.
The course layout should be evaluated and understood enough to give you an idea of where you’ll be swimming. Knowing where the turns are, as well as, the start and finish will make you feel more confident about the swim.

During the race
Now that you are ready to get in the water, there are some skills you’ll need to know that’ll help with your racing.

They include:

• Entries
• Navigation and sighting
• Drafting
• Turning buoys
• Exits
• Strategy

By properly entering the water, you’ll get off to a good start. While running into the water take small steps with your legs out to the side and have a wide heel recovery. Run until you are thigh deep in the water and then begin “dolphining”. This is a technique to get you further into the water as fast as possible. It can be done by diving into the water, pushing off the bottom with your hands, then pushing off the bottom with your feet, and using a butterfly arm stroke recovery to get you back to your starting position. Dive over small waves and under big waves before they hit you so as not to be pulled by them. You can practice the dolphin technique in the pool before your open water swim.

The water can be difficult to navigate when you want to see where you are going. The best way to sight while in the water is to lift your head and look forward, and then breathe. To keep course, find landmarks outside of the water, follow buoys or in a worst case scenario, follow the person in front of you. All of these can help keep the swim short by helping you not swim off course.

Drafting can help you go faster and save up to 20% of your swim energy. When drafting, you want to stay as close to the person in front of you without hitting them, or them hitting you. Drafting from behind will give you the best benefit. To do that you should be comfortable with all the bubbles created by the feet of your fellow swimmer. Drafting from behind will increase the chances of you hitting the front swimmer. Another good way to draft without getting too close to another person is to stay slightly to the side of someone or in the middle behind 2 swimmers. In these techniques, keep your head to another swimmers hip.
Turning buoys can be difficult, as it is a typical spot to get hit by other swimmers. To keep you comfortable and out of harms way, we suggest you swim wide around the buoy, and then come back into position after the turn. It is helpful to sight the buoy from a distance so you know when to position yourself properly.

Exiting the water is similar to entering; except, it is just the opposite. Swim as close to the beach as you can, especially in muddy conditions. Use the waves to bring you closer to shore. Body surf them by making your body stiff and catch them as you feel and see them behind you. When you get waist deep in the water, begin to use the dolphin technique. When the water is knee deep, start your run with short steps and wide heel recovery, just as you entered. Make sure you keep the run comfortable, this is not the time to elevate your heart rate.

Summary
Having a strategy to put all of this together is the key. Take control of your swim and know how you’re going to swim. Have your effort levels decided beforehand. Know where the buoys are and plan how you will swim around them. If you are nervous about starting with a crowd, start out wide and away from the other swimmers, and then increase your effort and move back into the pack once you’re comfortable.

By taking these steps, you’ll ensure that you’re prepared for the swim. You will be more calm and comfortable in the water knowing that you are ready to race.