Thought it would be useful to share some of my experience (good and bad) for IMWA. For what they are worth, I hope these tips would be of some help!
IMWA swim tips:
The next few months would be an ideal time to develop your swimming technique and efficiency. While the swim leg is considered the least important leg, the 1.9 km Busselton jetty out-and-back swim can be daunting when viewed from the shore.
Be prepared for the cold and possibly choppy waters. A participant was pulled out half way through the swim last year due to sea sickness. Yes, the waters can get choppy, and ingesting too much salt water can cause all sorts of problems.
Bilateral breathing strongly recommended. The swim route last two years was anti-clockwise, which is good for those who breathe on the left. But sometimes, they change the direction to clockwise. Also the currents can come from the left or right, so if you do bilateral breathing, you can avoid breathing into the current.
Draft a swimmer of comparable speed. I look for big strong caucasian swimmers who kick a lot. If possible, swim on the right of someone in a left to right current (vice versa). Practice drafting during swim sessions.
Swimming in a left-to-right current: Because you are pushed left to right, your hands should reach out to 10 or 11 o-clock instead of 12 o-clock. In right-to-left current, reach out to 1 or 2 o-clock. And sight often. The jetty is the best sighting post.
Stay relaxed and calm, especially when the waters get choppy. Go with the flow, and breathe at the crest of the wave.
IMWA swim tips:
The next few months would be an ideal time to develop your swimming technique and efficiency. While the swim leg is considered the least important leg, the 1.9 km Busselton jetty out-and-back swim can be daunting when viewed from the shore.
Be prepared for the cold and possibly choppy waters. A participant was pulled out half way through the swim last year due to sea sickness. Yes, the waters can get choppy, and ingesting too much salt water can cause all sorts of problems.
Bilateral breathing strongly recommended. The swim route last two years was anti-clockwise, which is good for those who breathe on the left. But sometimes, they change the direction to clockwise. Also the currents can come from the left or right, so if you do bilateral breathing, you can avoid breathing into the current.
Draft a swimmer of comparable speed. I look for big strong caucasian swimmers who kick a lot. If possible, swim on the right of someone in a left to right current (vice versa). Practice drafting during swim sessions.
Swimming in a left-to-right current: Because you are pushed left to right, your hands should reach out to 10 or 11 o-clock instead of 12 o-clock. In right-to-left current, reach out to 1 or 2 o-clock. And sight often. The jetty is the best sighting post.
Stay relaxed and calm, especially when the waters get choppy. Go with the flow, and breathe at the crest of the wave.
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