Top 10 Common Freestyle Mistakes In Swimming You Must Avoid!

Swimming is not an everyday activity for humans. They learn this activity through practical practice after understanding the technicalities. Some learn unacceptable techniques by bad adaption of water. These poor habits are there in freshers and seasoned swimmers. It is true that we learn basic strokes and keep afloat in water by propelling oneself. This is not seasoned swimming.

You must have watched lane swimming on mass media or at the local pool. What you witnessed is freestyle stroke. Through this stroke, you can escalate speed and adaptability, and it is for a reason it is included in competitions at national and international level. Flip turns, kick rhythm, entry stroke, exit stroke, arm angles etc. are some of the techniques which are overwhelming.

Prevalent Freestyle Mistakes!

The characteristic freestyle stroke is undertaken in a prone position in the water. The swimmer is faced down in water — the arms alternate in movement in overhead position propelling towards the rear hip and moving you forward. The legs move up and down to keep the toes pointed. Doing all this breath has to be taken at the most appropriate time which is also the recovery phase. The swimmer should inhale when the mouth is cleared of water during recovery recoup. Breathe during the alternate stroke.

Swimming needs plenty of practice, long hours in water, and repetition of strokes to get flawless swimming skill. Hips are vital in swimming. Hip rotation correlates with shoulder rotation to get a perfect stroke and movement. The beginners at the pronunciation of freestyle swimming assume it is easy to master. This is the first method of swimming when we first jump into the water. However, freestyle is difficult to master.

Timely breathing is not easily learnt. Freestyle breathing is of paramount importance so learning the stroke is a must. If breathing rhythm is not established and it is laboured, stroke will not be readily learnt. For all swimming strokes, the body position is vital. For instance, if arms are rotated while not doing so with a body, it can cause shoulder injuries. Kicking errors lead to resistance and drag.

1. Wrong use of Symmetry Line

Symmetry line is an assumed line running through the centre of the body. A large percentage of the swimmers are unaware of this line. So, they use the stroke in the wrong way. Hands invade the water at the onset of every stroke to make sure that it does not cross the imaginary midline; otherwise, shoulders will be strained, and drag will be enhanced.

2. Before palm elbow touches the water

Several swimmers extend their hands without keeping in mind the flexibility level. The beginners make this mistake. Some pull with the straight arm. Their elbow encounters water first, then slips down and drags thus missing the stroke leading to sinking. The neck and shoulders get strained. Elbow must stay high but fingertips down. Such mistakes direct the swimmer down.

3. Erroneous breathing

The breathing takes place at the wrong time of the stroke. Breathing rhythm should be correctly established; otherwise, water will enter the lungs. A common error is breathing early. If you breathe when your arm comes out of the water the arm will be next to your face, and you will swallow water. Breathe once your hand enters the water. This is the pull of stroke. Stop breathing when your hand comes out of the water. Remember to rotate and breathe.

4. Raising of palm correctly

A large percentage of swimmers hold up their palm making a stop sign after every glide. The shoulder and arching lower back and experience stress and strain. The legs sink. To come out of the situation, a lot of oxygen is needed. The swimmer feels very tired.

5. Improper head position

The learners stretch their arm and direct it upward, and then they forcefully hit the water with the hand. The head moves up and down. The back also wobbles up and down. This leads to pressure. The swimmer moves with every stroke, but speed is retarded. Stiff neck angle drops the body down in water.

6. More strokes for swimming

Swimming technique, efficiency, and flotation decide the number of strokes required to cross the pool. In case stretch of the body is extremely hard, the plexus region is affected, and stroke is shortened. Higher strokes are needed to cross the pool leaving you very tired.

7. Swimming Flat

It is very common to swim with belly looking towards the bottom of the pool. It is swimming flat. The wrong is not in alignment of your body but the way you move through the water. It is the right thing to roll to the side with each arm stroke. Once a stroke ends, your navel should look at the side of the pool. You should undertake rotation, and you are correct if armpit faces down.

8. Bend knees

The thought the process of learning swimmers is to kick hard and propel is faster. This is not true. Kicking in the front crawl stroke gives you some thrust. However, its role is to regulate straight position when in water. The huge error is to bend your knees when kicking. By this movement, resistance builds up. Kick from your hips and not legs. Keep angles loose. Keep kicks powerful but restrained. Over-kicking will tire you. There will be no gain in speed.

9. Stroke

Keep your strokes as effective as possible. Maintain your stroke with efficiency. If your stroke is short, the forward motion is restrained. You will need more strokes that will tire you. The short stroke will not propel you forward. With a short stroke, hand movement is not correct.

10. The kick

The common freestyle mistakes in swimming regarding kick are that it can be weak-kick or over-kick. A potent kick is one that has ankle flexibility. It has exceptional amplitude but not big width so as not to upset body position. With a weak kick, the swimmer kicks a lot with the hope of doing well. Here he fails miserably to get the right flow. The kick is good if it has rhythm, well timed with stroke and breathing. Over kicking will tire you. Training to learn swimming is a must.

Your legs can aid or retard swimming. The contention with kicking includes bend knees or a lot of kicking. The twosome makes for resistance and drag. Flat swimming or long-axis rotation makes the swimmer not rotate sideways. This disadvantage shortens the pull. An initial hand entry at the beginning of every stroke makes the swimmer drive downwards with arm rather than move forward. Here the straight-arm pull creates little power.

The best way to swim is to put the hand entry in front of the skull to keep the arm outstretched. The hand leaves the water and almost total extension on the back by the hips. Common freestyle mistakes in swimming can be prevented and relearnt with conscious effort and training.

How to Surf: Common Surf Etiquettes You Need to Know

Surfing is not just all about mastering the technical skills so that you can ride the waves like a pro. It is also important that you learn the basic etiquette, including those that will be mentioned below. As a beginner, you will most probably break many of them. To avoid being seen by other surfers as rude, be sure to know these things by heart and apply them the next time you are out surfing.

Do Not Drop In

Dropping in is one of the first things that you should learn when it comes to surfing etiquette. It should be avoided. Simply put, dropping in refers to taking off or engaging in a wave that already belongs to another surfer. Meaning, when someone has already gained right of way to the wave, you should be patient enough to wait for your turn. A lot of novices act all excited to ride the wave, and hence, they end up dropping in or snaking.

There are many reasons why people tend to drop in. The most common is that they did not see or hear the person who already has right of way. To prevent this from happening, it is important to be attentive all the time, making it possible to see if you will be interrupting a fellow surfer.

Dropping in should be avoided not only because it is rude but also because it can be a danger. You can hit other surfers and your board can be damaged when you are not careful. For a surfer who is just starting out, these things can be frustrating. So, if you want to avoid them from happening, follow one simple rule – never drop in.

As a new surfer, you will be dropping in on another surfer a couple of times. All that you have to do is to say sorry, learn from it, and avoid doing it again. Do not be discouraged. The experienced surfers will be understanding of your situation, especially if they can see that you are apologetic.

Never Throw your Board

As someone who is inexperienced in surfing, you may end up throwing and leaving your board in the water when you accidentally fall from it. Especially if you are surfing in a spot that is crowded, letting go of the board can seriously injure another surfer. Even if it is tempting to dive underneath, be sure to avoid it and keep a close hold of your board. For sure, when you are a beginner, your board is big and heavy. This makes it more of a risk to others, so do not throw it out in the open.

To avoid leaving or throwing your board, it is important that you know the art of control, which will help to propel the board in the right direction, preventing the possibility of losing it. Another good thing to do is to make sure that you are always tied to a leash, which will be helpful in keeping you close to your board during wipeouts.

Start Out in Small Waves

If you are just a novice, you should learn how to gauge your skills truthfully. Obviously, you are inexperienced, and hence, the best thing that you can do is to start riding small waves. You should choose the perfect location, which is a place where you can practice until you master the basic skills. Also, make sure that you master the fundamentals first before you go to the more advanced tricks.

Study Before you Go

As a new surfer, it is also important to be as observant as possible. Before you head out of the shore and paddle on the way to the waves, you should ask yourself if you can do it. As mentioned above, you need to have a truthful assessment of your skills. Are the waves too big? Is the bottom too rocky? Is it too crowded? If the answer to these questions is YES, these are indications that you should not go. It can be too risky for you since you are a newbie.

In line with this, you should know how to stay safe. For instance, it will be good to talk to the lifeguards on duty to be sure that there are no rip currents on where you will be heading. It will also be a good idea to interact with locals as they know better. They can provide valuable tips on how to ride and catch the best waves. They will give you advice that is valuable for safety when surfing in unfamiliar territory.

Be Friendly

In theory, surfing can be a lonely sport when you are in the water. You are alone in your surfboard, unlike other sports where you are with a team. However, this does not mean that you cannot make a new friend. Sometimes, all that it takes is a smile to the person next to you while waiting for your turn to ride the wave. This can make an instant connection. If you are on the shore, do not hesitate to strike a conversation with other surfers. You might even learn a thing or two if you talk to someone who has vast experience in surfing.

Build your Confidence

This is perhaps the most important thing that you should learn when it comes to surfing etiquette. There are many ways to be confident. A good way to start is to keep watching videos online and read articles that provide an extensive guide on how to become a better surfer. You should keep on visiting places with small waves. Find a mentor. Go out with a friend who is experienced in surfing. Be part of a community. Practice until you make it.

If you are not yet confident that you can ride the big waves, do not do it just yet. You are just going to be a distraction to other surfers, and you will be at risk of suffering from an injury.

How to Repair Inflatable SUP Board: Here’s How to save It!

When you go out on an adventure, it is inevitable that you come across new environments or territories that are unknown to you. These new places may have rocks and other sharp objects that can potentially damage your SUP board, even those that are inflatable. While your SUP boards may be vulnerable to damage, you can certainly prevent small leaks from getting in the way of your adventure.

In this post, we will be discussing everything that you need to learn about how to repair an inflatable SUP board. Hopefully, you get to apply this new knowledge for when the need arises. This article contains very easy to follow and comprehend step-by-step instructions so that you would not have a difficult time repairing your SUP board. Read on if you want to know more.

Materials for Repairing an Inflatable SUP Board

To be able to repair your SUP board right the first time, you would need the following tools:

        Patches 

• Brushes
• Tool Pen
• Glue
• Scissors
• Soap
• Piece of cloth

How To Prepare Yourself For Cold Water Swimming?

Cold water swimming is often performed during winter, and you swim in a pool or lake when the water remains colder less than 5 degree Celsius. Swimming in icy-cold water provides amazing health benefits such as boosting up your immune system, burning out extra calories, reducing stress and enhancing blood circulation.

You will find regular cold water swimmers because it increases your life expectancy. Apart from all health benefits, swimming in chilled water can be occasionally dangerous if not taken proper precaution. Some may find it difficult to cope with the frigid condition. So it is essential to prepare for cold water swimming to avoid putting your health into risk.

To make sure you are splashing in cool water safely, you must dress in with the proper essential gears.

• Put on two swim caps – When water remains chill, you may face difficulty in breathing. You will lose heat through your head. So the better option remains wearing two swim caps to block heat escaping from your head.
• Go for neoprene clothing’s – However, the material neoprene adds insulation keeping your body warm than any other stuff. Cold water swimmers prefer picking up neoprene swimming trunk, booties, gloves and socks because they allow you to swim faster and it won’t lessen haul.
• Earplugs are must-have – Live swimming caps remain essential, earplugs are must-have. When the water remains cool, ear plugs work effectively keeping your body temperature up. They are good enough to absorb heat.
• Shop the right wetsuit – For safety reason, make sure you wear a full covered wetsuit when splashing in chilled water. Choose neoprene material since it has added insulation that can keep your body warm in cold water. Neoprene enhances buoyancy, keeping your body positioned high in water and by helping you to swim faster. You need to buy a wetsuit that’s 5 or 6 mm sturdy, also sealed to preserve body heat in water. Broad and hefty wetsuit may lack flexibility so go for one which has in-built panels in it support your body while swimming. The wetsuit should snug fit around your neck, wrist, torso, and ankles.
• For extra protection wear gloves and socks – If the water freezes from 9 degree Celsius to 16 degree Celsius or lower, you must put on extra accessories. Neoprene gloves and socks are the best alternatives to keep your hand and leg from going numb.
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• Steps to get prepared for cold water swimming!

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  1. Have cold showers regularly

  You may not take the bit of advice genuine, but the easy thing you can follow is to take cold showers daily as a part of preparing your body for cold showers. You can try this a few weeks before you swim. Taking a cold bath can acquaint yourself with the feeling.

  2. Warm up and perform stretching for 15-20 minutes to reduce the impact

  It is very important to perform stretching exercise, preparing your body for strenuous activity. You can do jumping jacks repeatedly or go for brisk walking. Stretch out your muscles and allow your heart your pump before you leap into the frozen water. Warming up is vital especially for cold water splashing. It could minimize the impact of inevitable shock you may experience when leaping into chilled water.

  3. Plunge into water

  Initially, when you get in contact with cold water, your body may experience shock which may lead to shortness of breath. So never dive into icy-cold water. Go slowly to waist-deep, keeping your head above the water surface. This would avert gulping water into your lungs. At a slow pace, move into the water, and once water touches your hip level, you may dip your face into the chilled water by blowing air out through the mouth.

  Panting or puffing can make you anxious but keep calm and relax for a while; you will be normal within a minute. However, raise your head when you need to breathe again and repeat this step a few times.

• 4. Strengthen yourself slowly

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• You should never dive straight into freezing water because it may put you into trauma. Diving in cold water remains risky, and this may even lead to hypothermia. So once your body responds normally to the chilled water, you should slowly start building up your strength. You should be able to swim a few kilometres in the pool easefully. Swimming in chilled water demands enough energy so you must swiftly deplete your strength.

  Frozen water induce heat away from the body faster than the cold breeze, so when your body tries to recuperate that heat, it forces your heart to beat harder. Further, this may cause you to get exhausted quickly. At that time, you shouldn’t push further hard to swim to cover up more distance. Take a break a few minutes and increase the duration slowly.

• 5. Recognize your limit

• Outdoor swimming includes high-risk regardless of how robust and experienced you are. So make sure you are aware of the signs of hypothermia. Initially, you may feel cold, but within a few minutes of swimming, your body will adapt to the chillness. However, if you still feel frigid while swimming and if your muscles get fatigued, you feel shivery, tired and finds difficulty in breathing, get out of the water instantly. Make sure you spot the signs and take action quickly.

• 6. Get trained regularly to keep acclimating

• You should train consistently, three to four times per week. You must follow the thirty-minute session at least four times per week. Gradually get into the water for a short period. Later, once you are acclimated to the temperature, you must try swimming for twenty minutes. You must be able to swim in water under 21 degrees Celsius for a few minutes. Slowly increase the amount of time you swim. If you struggle to breathe, hop out of the water.

• 7. Go for an ice bath

• If you are not comfy to cold water sources, you should go for an ice bath. Put lots of ice into the water and check the temperature. Take ice bath four times per week. Swimming outdoors likes lake and oceans also provide great training for cold water swimming.

• 8. Warm up and recover

• Once you are out of the water, the body temperature will start declining. Get dried and cloth perfectly in warm layers. Have a hot drink or soup and keep moving to regain your regular body temperature. Remember, don’t take hot bath or shower once you are out from the cold water as this can cause a sudden drop of blood pressure, resulting in fainting or poor circulation to major organs.

  As a part of preparing yourself for cold water swimming, you can start the training sessions during summer. Keep it up until the weather changes and gradually gets colder. This would make you feel chilled water amiable.
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