I am looking at my first “snake swim” this Summer. I have done many pool swim triathlons but not a snake swim. Is there an accepted custom on passing and being passed? What is the most effective technique for turns, aim at a spot under the rope? Regular turn but off at an angle?
I would only recommend flip turning if you are comfortable and proficient because there will be people behind you and in front of you…
If you do decide to do them, the best way is to aim underneath the rope and push off at a slight angle to end up in the new lane.
In regards to passing, I would imagine that they will require your estimated time for 50m or 100m and then arrange the staggered swim start from fastest to slowest, so theoretically there should not be any passing going on. If you have to, I have never found passing a problem if you spot and wait for a space in oncoming swimmers.
What’s a snake swim?
The local sprint I start the year off here doesn’t allow flip turns. We went down and back in each lane then swapped, I just pushed off at an angle under the rope.
One thing I learned in two pool swims is that people, besides the fast swimmers, have ZERO clue how fast they swim. I’m not a fast swimmer but I’ve at least got my time within 10 seconds or so for a 400yd swim. I passed two people in the first 50 yds. Got passed at 150 yds and then repassed the person at 250 because they died. If you go out early (i.e. 1:15/100yd pace) you’ll be ok. If you swim with the +1:40/100 crowd just shrug it off, pass when you can. The pool turns into a wave pool and it’s pretty chaotic. It is entertaining to watch if you pass by the pool on the way to transition, looks like a traffic jam with everyone running into each other.
Snakes on a Lane?
WOW… no flip turns allowed. Can they wear life vest too? What about pull bouys? This is a joke