snorkels in tris - Triathlon Week

05-13-2005, 12:44 PM

Over on Slowtwitch there is a thread about swimming in a tri with a
snorkel. It has been determined that it is NOT prohibited under present
USAT rules.
Then the thread went on in several derogatory fashions about those that
might use snorkels.
It was pointed out that perhaps if a pro used one and did well, that
despite all the negativity at present, the whole idea would take off
and variuous new snorkels would emerge from R&D from the tri community.
I have never used a snorkel in a tri myself.

My point here is that NO ONE has yet posted anything pertaining to
actually trying to use a snorkel for swimming.
Now you would think that someone would put it to a test and do some
laps, time them and get back on with some results.
I am not much of a swimmer myself. I doubt I would be a good guinea pig
for timed swimming, with or without a snorkel.
So how about it. I know there are many out there swimming on a regular
basis. How about trying a snorkel during a swim workout and see what
you get.
Aside from the "dorkiness" factor noted on Slowtwitch, what if a
snorkel indeed allowed for a faster time. I guess we will not know
until it is tried.

05-13-2005, 01:56 PM

I will say this, I am a USAT Level I Coach, although I am not currently
coaching anyone, I have had several clients start with snorkels in their
swim workouts. It's one less thing they have to deal with, and in
coaching adults it surprises me how uncomfortable people can be in the
water. I have had every one of them eventually, 2-3 weeks, get rid of
the snorkel and swim better and faster. Anecdotal evidence at best, but
if you could swim faster with a snorkel someone, i.e. a pro, would have
tried by now.

Several local tri's I have competed in have had people using snorkels,
and when the only thing on the line is a ribbon, I say more power to
them. It's all about crossing the finish line.

TriRod

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote:
> Over on Slowtwitch there is a thread about swimming in a tri with a
> snorkel. It has been determined that it is NOT prohibited under present
> USAT rules.
> Then the thread went on in several derogatory fashions about those that
> might use snorkels.
> It was pointed out that perhaps if a pro used one and did well, that
> despite all the negativity at present, the whole idea would take off
> and variuous new snorkels would emerge from R&D from the tri community.
> I have never used a snorkel in a tri myself.
>
> My point here is that NO ONE has yet posted anything pertaining to
> actually trying to use a snorkel for swimming.
> Now you would think that someone would put it to a test and do some
> laps, time them and get back on with some results.
> I am not much of a swimmer myself. I doubt I would be a good guinea pig
> for timed swimming, with or without a snorkel.
> So how about it. I know there are many out there swimming on a regular
> basis. How about trying a snorkel during a swim workout and see what
> you get.
> Aside from the "dorkiness" factor noted on Slowtwitch, what if a
> snorkel indeed allowed for a faster time. I guess we will not know
> until it is tried.
>

05-13-2005, 02:52 PM

This depends on the snorkel as well -- most snorkels increase dead-air
space and increases the amount of rebreathing of stale air (increasing
CO2 intake).

There are some new snorkels that limit the dead air space using a
fresh-air intake, but be forewarned if you attempt this with a standard
run of the mill snorkel.

--

"[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]:

> Over on Slowtwitch there is a thread about swimming in a tri with a
> snorkel. It has been determined that it is NOT prohibited under present
> USAT rules.
> Then the thread went on in several derogatory fashions about those that
> might use snorkels.
> It was pointed out that perhaps if a pro used one and did well, that
> despite all the negativity at present, the whole idea would take off
> and variuous new snorkels would emerge from R&D from the tri community.
> I have never used a snorkel in a tri myself.
>
> My point here is that NO ONE has yet posted anything pertaining to
> actually trying to use a snorkel for swimming.
> Now you would think that someone would put it to a test and do some
> laps, time them and get back on with some results.
> I am not much of a swimmer myself. I doubt I would be a good guinea pig
> for timed swimming, with or without a snorkel.
> So how about it. I know there are many out there swimming on a regular
> basis. How about trying a snorkel during a swim workout and see what
> you get.
> Aside from the "dorkiness" factor noted on Slowtwitch, what if a
> snorkel indeed allowed for a faster time. I guess we will not know
> until it is tried.

05-13-2005, 06:54 PM

<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:1116013454.774858.307460@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> Over on Slowtwitch there is a thread about swimming in a tri with a
> snorkel. It has been determined that it is NOT prohibited under present
> USAT rules.
> Then the thread went on in several derogatory fashions about those that
> might use snorkels.
> It was pointed out that perhaps if a pro used one and did well, that
> despite all the negativity at present, the whole idea would take off
> and variuous new snorkels would emerge from R&D from the tri community.
> I have never used a snorkel in a tri myself.
>
> My point here is that NO ONE has yet posted anything pertaining to
> actually trying to use a snorkel for swimming.
> Now you would think that someone would put it to a test and do some
> laps, time them and get back on with some results.
> I am not much of a swimmer myself. I doubt I would be a good guinea pig
> for timed swimming, with or without a snorkel.
> So how about it. I know there are many out there swimming on a regular
> basis. How about trying a snorkel during a swim workout and see what
> you get.
> Aside from the "dorkiness" factor noted on Slowtwitch, what if a
> snorkel indeed allowed for a faster time. I guess we will not know
> until it is tried.
>

Another gadget... more clutter in T1.

One day our bikes will have/need restrictor plates. : {

rsquared

05-13-2005, 09:28 PM

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] wrote in news:1116013454.774858.307460
@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com:

> Over on Slowtwitch there is a thread about swimming in a tri with a
> snorkel. It has been determined that it is NOT prohibited under present
> USAT rules.
> Then the thread went on in several derogatory fashions about those that
> might use snorkels.
> It was pointed out that perhaps if a pro used one and did well, that
> despite all the negativity at present, the whole idea would take off
> and variuous new snorkels would emerge from R&D from the tri community.
> I have never used a snorkel in a tri myself.
>
> My point here is that NO ONE has yet posted anything pertaining to
> actually trying to use a snorkel for swimming.
> Now you would think that someone would put it to a test and do some
> laps, time them and get back on with some results.
> I am not much of a swimmer myself. I doubt I would be a good guinea pig
> for timed swimming, with or without a snorkel.
> So how about it. I know there are many out there swimming on a regular
> basis. How about trying a snorkel during a swim workout and see what
> you get.
> Aside from the "dorkiness" factor noted on Slowtwitch, what if a
> snorkel indeed allowed for a faster time. I guess we will not know
> until it is tried.
>

I suspect that a snorkel might make a newbie faster IN A POOL. S/he
doesn't have to worry about timing as much when they breathe. Newbies
typically pause in their stroke when they take a breath, so eliminating
this pause probably make a marginal improvement in a newbie swimmer. In
open water, it doesn't eliminate the need to raise one's head to sight,
and in surf conditions, a swimmer looking for a confidence boost might be
in for a nasty surprise when a wave washes over the snorkel. I think they
can be a great tool for a newbie. It allows them to focus on other
elements of their stroke and add breathing in later. I also think they're
great for skin diving. I don't think they're such a good idea in open
water, particularly when surf and crowds are involved.

Tom

05-14-2005, 07:38 AM

Why wait for some pro or whoever to do it? Quit waiting for someone else to
do it and go give it a try!!!!

Then you can tell us all about it.

"rsquared" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:oNche.25134$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. ..
> <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
> news:1116013454.774858.307460@z14g2000cwz.googlegr oups.com...
> > Over on Slowtwitch there is a thread about swimming in a tri with a
> > snorkel. It has been determined that it is NOT prohibited under present
> > USAT rules.
> > Then the thread went on in several derogatory fashions about those that
> > might use snorkels.
> > It was pointed out that perhaps if a pro used one and did well, that
> > despite all the negativity at present, the whole idea would take off
> > and variuous new snorkels would emerge from R&D from the tri community.
> > I have never used a snorkel in a tri myself.
> >
> > My point here is that NO ONE has yet posted anything pertaining to
> > actually trying to use a snorkel for swimming.
> > Now you would think that someone would put it to a test and do some
> > laps, time them and get back on with some results.
> > I am not much of a swimmer myself. I doubt I would be a good guinea pig
> > for timed swimming, with or without a snorkel.
> > So how about it. I know there are many out there swimming on a regular
> > basis. How about trying a snorkel during a swim workout and see what
> > you get.
> > Aside from the "dorkiness" factor noted on Slowtwitch, what if a
> > snorkel indeed allowed for a faster time. I guess we will not know
> > until it is tried.
> >
>
> Another gadget... more clutter in T1.
>
> One day our bikes will have/need restrictor plates. : {
>
> rsquared
>
>
>
>

05-14-2005, 11:44 AM

I can imagine all of the flailing arms and legs that go on during the
swim and consequently getting whacked in the snorkel and how much that
could hurt the mouth.

Alo wrote:

> Why wait for some pro or whoever to do it? Quit waiting for someone else to
> do it and go give it a try!!!!
>
> Then you can tell us all about it.

05-18-2005, 07:15 PM

> I suspect that a snorkel might make a newbie faster IN A POOL. S/he
> doesn't have to worry about timing as much when they breathe. Newbies
> typically pause in their stroke when they take a breath, so eliminating
> this pause probably make a marginal improvement in a newbie swimmer. In
> open water, it doesn't eliminate the need to raise one's head to sight,
> and in surf conditions, a swimmer looking for a confidence boost might be
> in for a nasty surprise when a wave washes over the snorkel. I think they
> can be a great tool for a newbie. It allows them to focus on other
> elements of their stroke and add breathing in later. I also think they're
> great for skin diving. I don't think they're such a good idea in open
> water, particularly when surf and crowds are involved.
>
> Tom

You're right - it has proven to be a definite advantage for the 'newbie' in
Open Water Swims in Australia. Top swimmers however, are not interested.
Some OWS allow the use of snorkels but then render the swimmer ineligible
for awards as is the rule for wet-suits under the FINA Masters Rules.

KF