TAKE THE PLUNGE

NZ Olympian Carl O’Donnell gives his tips for successful competitive ocean swimming

Gear check

Practise with your gear before race day. Leaky or foggy goggles, chafing on the neck and lost swim caps are the most common gear malfunctions to avoid. Relax

Ocean swimming events are popular and can get crowded at the start line. Focus on your own swimming and take the start slowly to avoid the rush. Build your pace throughout the swim if you feel you have more to give.

Catch a ride

The easiest and fastest way to swim in the open water is behind other people. Swimming behind the feet or alongside the hip of another swimmer positions you in their slipstream and gives you an extra boost.

Know where you are heading Navigating an ocean swim course is harder than it looks. Waves and tides can alter your course significantly and marker buoys can be difficult to see when your head is in the water. Get into the habit of lifting your head and having a look for marker buoys or landmarks. Have fun

Don’t let your nerves take away the fun and excitement of your ocean swim. Always remember the worst case scenario is that you put your hand up and catch a ride with the safety crew.

Competitive ocean swimmer Carl O’Donnell offers coaching, swimming programmes, technique lessons and more at Swim360. swim360.co.nz