The Unavoidable Facts About Drafting
Drafting (in swimming) is:
In our squads in Perth we asked our swimmers to perform a 1000m timetrial in the pool two weeks running. In the first week our lane 1 averaged 19:15 but the following week we moved some faster swimmers across from lane 2 and told the lane 1 swimmers to draft off them - the result: 17:30!
Where they pleased? Not all of them! Several complained how awkward and claustrophobic it felt - the exact same swimmers who tend to seek out clear water in an open water race and under-perform as a result.
There's no avoiding the downsides of drafting but the huge speed improvement makes it all worthwhile. So get practising and when it comes to a race, turn the brain off and go for it!
Swim Smooth!
Turbulent
Claustrophobic
Uncomfortable
Unpredictable
Stochastic
Requires focus
Requires practise
A lot faster than swimming by yourself
Claustrophobic
Uncomfortable
Unpredictable
Stochastic
Requires focus
Requires practise
A lot faster than swimming by yourself
In our squads in Perth we asked our swimmers to perform a 1000m timetrial in the pool two weeks running. In the first week our lane 1 averaged 19:15 but the following week we moved some faster swimmers across from lane 2 and told the lane 1 swimmers to draft off them - the result: 17:30!
Where they pleased? Not all of them! Several complained how awkward and claustrophobic it felt - the exact same swimmers who tend to seek out clear water in an open water race and under-perform as a result.
There's no avoiding the downsides of drafting but the huge speed improvement makes it all worthwhile. So get practising and when it comes to a race, turn the brain off and go for it!
Swim Smooth!