HOW TO CONQUER SWIMMING IN THE SEA

The sea is nature's greatest swimming pool - and features in many of the world's best triathlons. But if you're new to oceanic adventures, it can be daunting. Here's how to feel at home...

-  STEVE BOWEN

Most new triathletes will point to one element of racing as being the most nerve-wracking. Yes, while there is a lot to consider in multisport (transitions, skintight outfits, chafing and trying to get trainers on without socks, just for starters!) it’s the open-water swimming that causes the most sleepless nights. More so than that, it’s taking on a sea swim that can be the most worrying – and while you can manage that by only racing in fresh water (mainly lakes) – this means you’re automatically ruling yourself out of so many great events, including qualification to world champs, if they’re held in a coastal area.

Often these worries come down to lack of experience, as well as fears or phobias (we’ll level with you – it might have been a terrible robotic shark and two sinister notes, but Jaws has a lot to answer for). After all, if you haven’t grown up in the surf then there’s a lot you won’t have experienced, including waves, swell, tides and currents, rips and wildlife. It’s a shame, though, as a fear of sea swimming means you’re missing out on one of nature’s greatest playgrounds, as well as the chance to confidently compete in some of the best triathlons.

So, over the next few pages, we enlisted the help of experts Norma MacLeod and Steve Bowens, authors of the ‘Safer Sea Swimming’ course (available online) to guide you through how to approach the ocean. Let’s dive in…

HOW TO CONQUER: TIDES