Williamstown Open Water Swimmers is a sports club located in Melbourne, Australia, dedicated to providing open water swimming coaching and training to swimmers of all levels. With a focus on ocean swimming, the club aims to help individuals improve their skills, build confidence, and enjoy the unique challenges and rewards of swimming in open water environments.
The club recognises that open water swimming is a different experience compared to pool swimming, and therefore offers specialised coaching and training to prepare swimmers for the various conditions they may encounter in the sea. From rough waves to strong currents, swimmers at Williamstown Open Water Swimmers are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate these challenges safely and effectively.
One of the key aspects emphasised by the club is the importance of technique in open water swimming. While the rough ocean conditions may present additional difficulties, maintaining good form and technique is crucial to swim efficiently and reduce the amount of energy expended. Swimmers are encouraged to work on ten specific skills, including cutting through waves, keeping control, stretching before diving in, maintaining a higher stroke rate, and continuously kicking to maintain momentum and direction.
In addition to technique, the club also focuses on body positioning and stability in rough water. Swimmers are taught to hold their bodies as still as possible, creating a stable platform for their arm movements and kick. Leg kicking is emphasised, with swimmers encouraged to keep their legs close together, perform relatively small and fast kicks, and never stop kicking.
Williamstown Open Water Swimmers is committed to helping individuals improve their performance and enjoyment of open water swimming. The coaching provided by the club aims to develop swimmers into confident and capable ocean swimmers, capable of tackling any conditions they may encounter. By providing specialised coaching and training, the club offers a supportive and inclusive environment for individuals to pursue their open water swimming goals.