Swimming efficiency videos

[Source: Tri-Rudy newsletter, August 12, 2008]

by Tom Anzai

I often coach triathletes who don't engage their front crawl kick and "want to save their legs for the bike/run".

There are two forces to help you maintain body balance in the water and reduce drag:

• head position
• continuous, fluid kick

Proper attention to how these forces enable you to swim with high hips will allow you to slip through the water easier.

This video describes the initiation of the hips and the elimination of the knee bend. There are also demo's of a non-fluid and fluid kick as well as some dryland exercises to work on balance and a supple kick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_OqFTHq1G8

The other video describes the underwater catch portion of the stroke--one of the most common questions we get in the sport. Watch the underwater footage of the Olympics and check out their wicked high elbows!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmFJC9m_Awg&feature=related

Upcoming videos will explain/demonstrate proper arm recovery and balance as well as the Top 3 stroke deficiencies and how to correct them.