In an event where you go under lane ropes at end of each lap whats the best way to do this
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flip turn and push off the wall in the direction you’re heading.
Same as regular open/flip turn, just that when you push off the wall push at an angle instead of straight
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I just did this Saturday at The Race on Base in Los Alamitos. It was outdoors, but the same principles apply.
If it is time trial style, just do a flip turn right at the lane and go slightly deeper into the new lane.
If it’s a Victory at Sea type of free for all -
move towards the lane line on the side you will be turning to,
look for a hole to do your flip turn into - it may not be right on the lane line, but hopefully close
do your flip and go relatively to very deep to avoid all the other swimmers and vertical breaststroke types ( I was 5-6 feet deep)
do a number of dolphins to get into the next lane in a hole between others.
If it is a mass style event, you will find groups of people getting to the wall away from where they need to be and shuffling over to the lane line and the ducking under. Some will then even get ready to push off again.
Get away from that whole mess, flip and save maybe 5-10 seconds per turn.
Having very good flips and underwaters really helps in the mass events.
You also need to be able to flip in both directions. Normal USA circle swim is counterclockwise, so you flip to the left. In these pool tri’s, you may need to turn to the right.
Wait people mass start a pool swim? That seems a terrible idea.
Never learned to flip turn and don’t feel the need. Won’t use that skill in open water.
I just time my stroke so when i hit the wall, I’m ready for a breath. I turn, push off, and BLOW OUT underwater as i’m under the lane line. The first few times I did it, I would suck in a big breath and try to drag myself into the next lane, forgetting that I made myself more buoyant by inhaling. Now I’ve got the pivot smooth enough that i don’t really lose any time to those that are flip turning.
Wait people mass start a pool swim? That seems a terrible idea.
They don’t anymore, I lifeguarded one that tried ~25 years ago.
Reverse tri puts the swim last to spread it out - unless you are in the lead it endsup as a mass event. R-B-S
That makes sense.
I have my first pool tri coming up in a few months. Been working my tail off on my flip turns. If I can’t be fast, I can at least be flashy.
Never learned to flip turn and don’t feel the need. Won’t use that skill in open water.
I just time my stroke so when i hit the wall, I’m ready for a breath. I turn, push off, and BLOW OUT underwater as i’m under the lane line. The first few times I did it, I would suck in a big breath and try to drag myself into the next lane, forgetting that I made myself more buoyant by inhaling. Now I’ve got the pivot smooth enough that i don’t really lose any time to those that are flip turning.
Not needing to know how to flip in OWS is fine.
If you train in a group situation, it is a nevessary skill.
You’re delusional to think you can open turn as fast as a good flip - you are losing yards and seconds per turn.
Not needing to know how to flip in OWS is fine.
If you train in a group situation, it is a nevessary skill.
You’re delusional to think you can open turn as fast as a good flip - you are losing yards and seconds per turn.
Never trained with a group in the pool. If I’m in a group, I’m in open water.
And sure, I’m delusional. But I manage to make up those seconds in T1… I am simply aghast at how many people take the stretch between the water and the bike rack as a casual Sunday jog in the park. It’s a RACE, goshdurnit! Move your arse!
Not needing to know how to flip in OWS is fine.
If you train in a group situation, it is a nevessary skill.
You’re delusional to think you can open turn as fast as a good flip - you are losing yards and seconds per turn.
Never trained with a group in the pool. If I’m in a group, I’m in open water.
And sure, I’m delusional. But I manage to make up those seconds in T1… I am simply aghast at how many people take the stretch between the water and the bike rack as a casual Sunday jog in the park. It’s a RACE, goshdurnit! Move your arse!
No you don’t. You can never make up seconds that you give away (i.e. you are losing time, 20-30 seconds or more, to someone with good turns who also hustles through the transition.)
Maybe they’re slow going into T1 because you’re with the weakest triathletes who are not looking to podium and just want to survive? The faster/fastest athletes are already out on the bike
Not needing to know how to flip in OWS is fine.
If you train in a group situation, it is a nevessary skill.
You’re delusional to think you can open turn as fast as a good flip - you are losing yards and seconds per turn.
Never trained with a group in the pool. If I’m in a group, I’m in open water.
And sure, I’m delusional. But I manage to make up those seconds in T1… I am simply aghast at how many people take the stretch between the water and the bike rack as a casual Sunday jog in the park. It’s a RACE, goshdurnit! Move your arse!
No you don’t. You can never make up seconds that you give away (i.e. you are losing time, 20-30 seconds or more, to someone with good turns who also hustles through the transition.)
I do have to agree with Jason in this instance. Flip turns are essential skill to improve swimming indoors and out. It helps with breathing, rhythm and body control in the water. Now that being said, I still don’t do them inside but that is more about my pride. I look silly doing them and get all self conscious of the aquafit MILFs in my pool knocking my style LOL.
you are losing yards and seconds per turn.
Exaggerate much? Someone with equally good open turns vs flip turns may lose a second per hundred (three turns). No way they’re losing multiple seconds per turn.
I tested it the other day, my 100y times were about 1s difference, it surprised me even. But I also swim in high school and raced 200IM, so i practice descent open turns a lot. But I’m not great at either one. You do get 1 extra breath, but I think it does hurt your overall rhythm.
Right. Survey the guys that do their triathlon swim averaging 1:10 per 100 yards to see if they do flip turns in the pool.
But let’s not go into another round of slow swimmers telling fast swimmers they’re wrong.
Back on topic, going under lane ropes… I do an indoor tri to kick off the season and when it draws near… I think about which way I’m turning the week leading up to the race. Try turning left on one end of the pool and right on the other end.
But let’s not go into another round of slow swimmers telling fast swimmers they’re wrong.
HEY! you just stole my line!
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This has been discussed exhaustively. I am looking forward to another round of 2:00 / 100m swimmers telling 1:15 / 100m swimmers they are wrong…
Ha! I should have referenced it. It is the best summation of the flip turn debate I’ve ever heard.
I tested it the other day, my 100y times were about 1s difference, it surprised me even. But I also swim in high school and raced 200IM, so i practice descent open turns a lot. But I’m not great at either one. You do get 1 extra breath, but I think it does hurt your overall rhythm.
My experience is similar. And, sometimes, it’s nice to be able to get that extra breath - especially when the situation isn’t conducive to a smooth flip turn (traffic at the wall, traffic at your exit point, etc.)
On one side it’ll be easy (when you “turn” in the direction you normally turn) but on the other side it won’t be as easy. This video has some somewhat useful tips.