Open Water Swimming Tips and Training

Getting away from following the black line at the bottom of the pool can reinvigorate your swimming. Head out to the open water with these training and safety tips. Find an open water swim near you.

Key Principles of Open Water Drafting

Key Principles of Open Water Drafting

Understanding where to position yourself while drafting in open water is crucial to maximizing its effects. So why are you still swimming directly behind someone else?

The Pyramid of Open Water Success

The Pyramid of Open Water Success

Achieve your open water racing goals by focusing on these building blocks to optimal performance.

Acclimating Your Body to Cold Water

Acclimating Your Body to Cold Water

Even the toughest pool workouts can't prepare you for a frigid swim in open water. Here's why adapting to cold water can give you a leg up on the competition.

Open Water Racing Veteran Shares 10 Tips for Novices

Open Water Racing Veteran Shares 10 Tips for Novices

Since we all know that the best way to learn is from our mistakes, open water champ John Flanagan shares 10 tips for open water swimming.

Robert LaBerge/Allsport

10 Open Water Tips--From a Woman's Point of View

10 Open Water Tips--From a Woman's Point of View

Here are 10 tips from a smart and ruthless female competitor who knows how to put men in their place--behind her at the finish line.

6 Common Worst Case Scenarios for Open Water Swimmers and How to Avoid Them

6 Common Worst Case Scenarios for Open Water Swimmers and How to Avoid Them

The uncontrolled environment of open water competitions means a lot can go wrong. Here's how to survive when things don't go according to plan.

3 Essential Open-Water Survival Tips

3 Essential Open-Water Survival Tips

Swimming in a pack can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Overcome the variables of open water with these tips.

How to Warm Up Right for an Open Water Race

How to Warm Up Right for an Open Water Race

You won't find a separate warm-up pool for swimmers at open water events. With convenient warm-up conditions hard to come by, here are some tips to help you prep properly.

Survive the Surf: Entrances and Exits in Open Water Swims

Survive the Surf: Entrances and Exits in Open Water Swims

Open water swimming can be nerve-wracking, especially when pounding waves await you at the start. Here are some tips to help you conquer a crashing surf.

Learn Open-Water Swimming Skills for Summer Racing

Learn Open-Water Swimming Skills for Summer Racing

If you're planning to swim in open water this summer, you already know the big blue sea requires some different skills than the pool. Here are five tips to help you shave time off your open-water swims.

An Open Water Swimmer's Formula for Race-day Fuel

An Open Water Swimmer's Formula for Race-day Fuel

Although the theories behind sports nutrition tend to evolve, change, and repeat themselves as rapidly as any other current trends, there are basic ground rules to eating right.

6 Tips to Help Transition From the Pool to Open Water

6 Tips to Help Transition From the Pool to Open Water

Quite a few triathletes are reluctant to break away from the comfortable confines of the local lap pool. Practice these drills before heading out into open water to help ease the transition.

Training for the Open Water National Championships

Training for the Open Water National Championships

Five-time U.S. national open-water champion John Kenny shares his training log leading up the U.S.A. Swimming Open Water National Championship.

Diary from the U.S.A Swimming Open Water Championships

Diary from the U.S.A Swimming Open Water Championships

Open water swimmer John Kenny kept a diary of his trip to Florida, where he competed in the 10K and 25K national championships.

8 Ways to Handle Swimming in Cold Water

8 Ways to Handle Swimming in Cold Water

Whether you're training or racing, it's tough to get going when the water makes you shiver. Try these tips to help your body conquer the cold.

Swimming Around the World: Open Water Destination Races

Swimming Around the World: Open Water Destination Races

As open water races grow in popularity, so does the chance to combine travel with competitive swimming. Discover some vacation hot spots you'll want to bring your cap and goggles to.

Guided Swimming Vacations: A New Twist on Adventure Travel

Guided Swimming Vacations: A New Twist on Adventure Travel

Open water swimming doesn't always have to include fighting waves and getting kicked by other competitors. For some vacationers, it's a means to island hop and see the world.

Start to Finish: Owning the Open Water

Start to Finish: Owning the Open Water

The first five minutes of a triathlon can be chaotic. Learn how to manage this hectic time with a smooth entrance and proper pacing.

Off to the Races: 3 Tips for a Fast Swim Start

Off to the Races: 3 Tips for a Fast Swim Start

For many triathletes, the swim is a warm up, something to endure before starting the serious work on the bike and run. But a good swim can set you up--at least psychologically--for a great race.

Avoiding the Deadly Grip of a Rip Current

Avoiding the Deadly Grip of a Rip Current

With beach season upon us, learn how to avoid a rip current's potentially deadly grip and enjoy a safe ocean swimming season.

3 Drills for Open Water Swimming

3 Drills for Open Water Swimming

Training with a group in open water is often limited to aerobic development. These drills will improve your swim-leg skills and give you the edge on race day.

Discuss This Article