Dan, a bunch of us followed with interest your installation of the Endless Pool. Not that most of us have the cash or the space to buy and install one, but a buddy of mine who lives along the Ottawa river here in Ottawa Canada and has an endless pool in his backyard (that being the river) for 4-5 months a year (when it is warm enough to swim…and 5 months is a real stretch), had been considering getting one so that he has an Endless Pool 12 months a year.
You mentioned that your 2500 yd continuous swim was pain free. Good to hear. Was it in the Endless Pool and how is that making out ? Anyone else have one of these babies?
Living in a rural area we don’t have a pool nearby and have to drive about 45 minutes. We have a 39 ft pool in our back yard which in this northern clime is good from about mid May to mid September. It’s great for practising flip turns.
We have the literature/video about the Endless Pool. Someday maybe, but it won’t be any time soon.
Our local tri store, Inside-Out Sports, installed one in their shop. They charge by the hour for anyone that wants to use it. Their hourly rate includes an underwater cam and a VCR - just bring your own blank tape. Having the mirror and the cam is great for stroke improvement. You think you’re doing X, but when you see yourself in the underwater mirror you’re really doing Y. Haven’t tried it yet for long continuous swims. Have noticed though, that the flowing water goes from the top as it exits the propulsion unit to the bottom where it enters the return. The result seems to be a bit of over-wash on my head forcing a more-pronounced roll for breathing, and it tends to push my feet down slightly.
You are 100% correct. It’s actually an easy fix by simply raising the grate up to just above the bench. The other issue is that you really never get a good “pull” from the EP. I swam in one during the week (used to work for EP) and then hit a pool at the local high school and couldn’t figure out why my shoulders hurt in the regular pool but never in the EP. One of the guys from TI explained that I was pulling water in the regular pool while in the EP, I was simply passing the water by me.
I was part of the crew who started EP in triathlons and think they have a good product, just need to make some changes and I think the value would be much higher. I’ve heard they are working on making a faster propulsion system soon and not sure if they ever changed the mirror.
I finished my last f.i.s.t for the day .sent another happy customer on his way,cruised down to Bondi slid into the crystal water .stroked out a few easy laps(3.8km) spotting marine dwellers here and there.After exiting the water with the sun setting the sky an array of colours ,thought to myself, funny their is’nt much of a market for endless pools down here .suckers
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