Email sent to all Clinic 1 participants
Greetings everyone,
We hope you're looking forward to our open water swim clinic on Saturday, June 29. This is one of the biggest clinics we’ve ever had so please try and arrive on time so we can get everyone checked in.
The time for the clinic is 9:00am - approximately 11:30 (depending on when everyone gets out of the water). We will on Cowell Beach in front of the Dream Inn adjacent to Lifeguard Tower #1.
If for some reason you are late look for a big group on the beach. We will be spending some time on the beach so bring a towel to sit on. You do not need to put on your wetsuit before the clinic. As a matter of fact, if you do you'll just be too hot and uncomfortable. You will have lots of time to get your suit on and get in the water.
Parking:
Don't even try to park at the Cowell Beach Lot, it will probably be full by that time of morning. We recommend Depot Park, a block up the street, behind the National Marine Sanctuary Center.
All parking is pay-by-the-spot in this area. Parking at the beach and streets starts at 10:00am and the meters won't take your money until then. To avoid a big ticket we recommend parking at Depot Park and buy a ticket or use Park Mobile. The address is for Depot Park 119 Center Street, Santa Cruz to plug into your GPS. It's only a block up the beach and about a three minute walk.
Things to Bring
- towel
- goggles *
- wetsuit
- swim cap **
- ear plugs (if you have them)
* Goggles - if your goggles are new spend a few minutes conditioning them before you wear them. All goggles have a thin layer of protective coating during the manufacturing process. If you don't get all of that off they will fog up. So wash them in warm, soapy water with a soap like Dawn or something that will help take all that slippery stuff off the insides. Another option is to use NON-ABRASIVE toothpaste to clean the inside so you don't scratch them.
** Swim Caps - We will have swim caps for you or you can bring your own.
Topics we'll be covering in this session:
- Conquering apprehension about about Open Water Swimming
- Basic Gear
- Beach topography and water entry/exit
- Overcoming the cold in open water swimming
- Basic stroke and swimming technique in the ocean
Most of the actual swimming will take place close to the shore, along the shore and out of the surf zone. For swimmers with more experience or open water comfort you will have the opportunity to swim to and around at least one buoy, possibly two, at the end of the clinic as time allows.
There is a section on the main clinic page on the top bar called "Clinic Resources". Notes for this clinic are posted under that heading at the following link - or click on the sign-up button above to go to the main page:
https://runsignup.com/Race/OWSClinics/Page/ClinicResources
Over this next week please review these notes. Plus you should plan on spending some time in the pool getting comfortable with the water and brushing up on your freestyle and making sure you gear fits.
See you on June 29.
