I’ve Gordo’s stuff on his site.
I’d like to hear how others use it, how they incorporate it into their swim workouts. I’m thinking I might add it after 2 swim sessions per week. Slowly build up the Vasa volume on partial and full pulls.
I have one already, and I mostly use it for rows and other moderate resistance training that’s not specific to swimming.
I have one at my business and use it with some of my athletes. We use it as a muscular endurance workout, with particular emphasis on the catch. I find that elbow droppers can learn the movement of a high elbow catch more easily on the Vas without the dynamics of breathing and rotation.
I think the Vasa is a very effective tool, but it definitely is not a replacement for swimming. Don’t cut back on swimming to use the Vasa, it is a supplement.
Ken
I bought one for my personal use and for my two daughters, who are on a local club swim team. It absolutely has helped especially with training for proper arm/hand position, although it seemed very awkward at first until I got a feel for the proper rhythm. Because I don’t have to float, breathe, etc., I can really concentrate on specific motions that I want to improve. I use it 2-3 times a week, I do 6 sets of 30, alternating between free and fly, with a one minute recover between sets. If you do get one, get them to throw in the upgraded paddles, or buy them. They really are better than the default ones.
I definitely won’t use it to replace any pool time – no question there.
When you say you use it for freestyle, do you rotate at all, or just do a pull on one side, do it in reverse (because you can’t really do a true recovery) and then repeat with the other side? Or do you pull both sides at once?
You actual do a recovery, but it’s linked in to your pull on the other side. You can pull bith arms at the same time as well. On my fly sets, I do a fly-like recovery.
Ah, so you are not using “normal” swim timing, but rather more like a kayak?
yes
Of course the tool is not intended for training whole stroke, rather it allows you to focus on some specific areas for improvement. Anyway, I’m glad I bought it.
Are you describing the new vasa ergometer swim machine or their other machine, vasa trainer? which one is best?
I have the Vasa Trainer, and I’m happy with it. I haven’t tried the other machine. I’d really like to Vasa come up with a software tool like SpinScan to show how you’re really spending your energy.
I would not waste my money on a Vasa trainer. Just buy a pair of stretch coards and attach them to a pair of paddles and you’ve got the same thing for way less and taking up almost no space.