New review posted on-line at http://www.coastalhealthandfitness.com/page12.php?post=14

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Making the Most of Wind & Waves & Sunburn

Bruckner Chase – Swimming & Ocean Sports Editor

For many of us training and competing is about the feel of the sun on our backs and the wind in our face.  If you can add to that the waves crashing overhead amidst flailing arms and legs then every open water swim or triathlon will be an energizing experience.

Experienced swimmers structure their pool workouts around intervals designed to increase speed and conditioning by controlling the rest, distance and intensity of various “Sets.”  Whether in the pool or ocean, swimming requires the application of the same techniques to improve performance as running and cycling – mimic race situations and stress your body beyond its comfort zone.  Pool swimmers can do a few drills to simulate the physiological conditions they will find in an open water swim, but there is no substitute for getting out into the ocean, bay or lake.  The mistake many swimmers and triathletes make once in the ocean is not applying the pool principals that got them faster over the winter.  Take a look at the list below and see if any of these suggestions or techniques might improve your open water swimming or triathlon season this summer.

Pool Open Water Techniques & Drills:

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• Head up 50’s – Swim 3 x 50’s freestyle and check your times for each swim.  Swim 3 x 50’s and this time lift your head twice on each length to sight on an object at the end of the pool.  Check your times and work on improving the quickness and efficiency of sighting those imaginary buoys.
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• Longer “Broken” Swims – Duplicate the mad rush of the start by doing intervals that take your heart rate up and then force you to relax and find your groove.  For instance, swim 300 meters on an interval that allows 20 seconds of rest after each 300.  For each 300: 50 at 85%, Rest ten seconds, 200 at 65%, Rest ten seconds, 50 at 85%.  Repeat this 2 or more times depending on your conditioning.
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• Breath Control Swims – Holding or controlling your breathing during swims works to condition your body to the build-up of CO2 and overcome the urge to breathe.  When you are diving under waves or miss a couple of breaths this tolerance will help you keep your cool.  Try this:  Swim 100 and for the 25’s – (1) breathe every stroke, (2) every 3^rd, (3) every 5^th and (4) every 7^th.  Take a longer rest interval and repeat based on your level of conditioning.

 Open Water Techniques & Drills for Safety and Performance:

• Walk the Shore:  Walk out into the water about waist deep and check out the bottom for rocks, sand bars, slippery spots, etc.  This is something to do before any swim or race.  While you are checking the bottom watch the water for currents, chop, waves and rips.  Never go in alone or in dangerous conditions such as fog, large surf or strong currents.
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• In & Outs:  From 10 yards up the beach run into the water and sprint 50 – 100 yards out or just past the surf break.  Recover for a minute then sprint back in and up the beach.  
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• Tempo Training:  Don’t just float around and let every open water session be a social swim.  After warming up for a few minutes begin race pace swims with controlled rest sessions.  Try this: 3:00 at an 80% effort followed by 1:00 at 50%.  Repeat several times based on your level of conditioning.
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• Time Trial:  Find a course that will take 15:00 to 30:00 to swim.  Start your watch and race the distance recording your time.  This time becomes your benchmark.  Repeat the same distance swim during the course of the season as a time trial to measure your conditioning.  Remember that changing open water conditions can affect your time, so focus as much on your perceived exertion as you do on the overall time.
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• Play:  Get comfortable in the water.  Body surf, paddleboard, play in the waves or just practice putting your head down and looking into the deep.  If you spend long enough in the ocean your are going to be bumped by something unexpected, splashed by a dolphin, startled by a plastic bag or stung by a jellyfish.  By the numbers your bike ride is more dangerous than the chance of a life-threatening encounter in the ocean, so keep in mind that often the scariest things in the open water are the fears we bring with us from the land.  

And don’t forget your sunscreen!

Editors note:  This August, Bruckner will attempt to become the second person in history to solo swim the Monterey Bay.  Stay tuned to the Watermans’ “life” for more info and updates on this historic swim.

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June 14, 2009

::FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE::

The Monterey Bay Swim, Bruckner Chase Solo Crossing
Solo Marathon Swim: Santa Cruz, CA to Monterey, CA. 25-Miles 

&

Strathmere / Sea Isle Island Swim 17 Miles, June 25

At 3:00 AM on August 19, 2009 Bruckner Chase, current Ocean City, NJ resident and former Santa Cruz, CA, will enter the water at Main Beach, Santa Cruz, CA in an attempt to become the second person to solo swim the 25 mile distance to Monterey, CA.   Chase’s route will retrace the course followed by Cindy Cleveland, the first and only known person to have completed the swim in September 1980.   The purpose of attempting the swim is to bring attention not only to the amazing marine sanctuary of Monterey Bay but also invite others to consider the incredible potential that exists in all of us.   (more…)

By Matt Lopez, Correspondent

Tyler Anderson had to catch his breath before he could soak it all in.

The 24-year-old Long Beach native had just pushed by the competition to take first place in Sunday’s Rock 2 Rock paddleboard event in a time of 3 hours and 48 minutes. (more…)

The latest and greatest from our friends at Quickblade and Patrice Chanzy!

Waterman Patrice Chanzy doing what he does best.

::FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE::

WATERMANS:  APPLIED SCIENCE PRESENTS, “THE SURFAID PADDLE FOR HUMANITY”

Race Recap

Doheny State Park (Saturday, May 2, 2009)  – Sunshine, great weather, and over 200 participants and spectators were on hand Saturday morning for the first annual SurfAid Paddle for Humanity, despite the Weatherman’s predictions of rain and questionable conditions.  The event proved to be a great experience for everyone involved.  Paddlers raised over $11,000 for SurfAid International to help support their efforts to improve the health, wellbeing and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing.

 Although the Weatherman called for rain early Saturday, the weather cooperated and conditions were excellent for the start.  With 130 competitors in the water the race provided some truly exciting moments and a great showcase for the upcoming sport of paddling.  Surftech and Bark Paddleboards were on hand with over 40 demo boards and provided many competitors with their first true race experience.  “Both the SUP and Paddleboard markets are really taking off,” commented Joe Bark, legendary paddleboard shaper and race sponsor.  “We are seeing twice as many orders this year for both SUP and Paddleboards with a lot of cross over.  It is a really exciting time for the sport.”

 More importantly, sponsors and competitors rallied to surpass the events fundraising goal for a grand total of $11,000. “We couldn’t have been more excited with the turnout and everyone’s support,” said Watermans Macon Brock “We are really looking forward to next year.”  SurfAid, the beneficiary of the event was equally inspired by the success of the event. “We were thrilled by the participation to support SurfAid,” said SurfAid Director, Javier Guerrero, “The paddleboard community is amazing and we look forward to future events with the paddleboard industry to raise funds for SurfAid’s programs in Indonesia.”

 The award for most money raised by a single competitor went to Chris Koerner, Orange County resident and long time paddle sports advocate. “I’ve had my share of surf travel over the years and I am happy to join the paddling community in helping SurfAid’s cause,” said C4 Ambassador and top fundraiser Koerner,  “We had a great turnout and fantastic conditions for the paddle and post-race gathering and hope to see more of these types of events.”

For photos from the event and race results please visit http://watermansappliedscience.com/blog/?cat=294

 Please support out sponsors:

Watermans: Applied Science, Surftech, Joe Bark Paddleboards, Honolua Surf Co., Reef, Surfline.com, Ocean & Earth, Future Fins, Sambazon, Hobie Surf Shop, and Primo Island Lager.

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About SurfAid International

 The mission of SurfAid International, a non-profit humanitarian organization, is to improve the health, wellbeing and self-reliance of people living in isolated regions connected to us through surfing.  For more information or to make a donation contact the SurfAid staff at 760.931.1199, visit www.surfaidinternational.org or e-mail usa@surfaidinternational.org

About Watermans:  Applied Science

Watermans:  Applied Science is dedicated to providing today’s Watermen and women with the best, most effective and functional, high-performance sunscreen on the market. Made and Manufactured in California, USA.  For more information visit www.watermansappliedscience.com.

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Click to enlarge images.

For more images from The SurfAid Paddle for Humanity, 2009, e-mail or visit JFennell@JFennellPhoto.com

www.JFennellPhoto.com

More photos available at Chris Bishow Photography

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Jason Murray, self portrait

Jason Murray has been documenting his world for over 2 decades. Raised on saltwater, skinned knees and a healthy appetite for exploration, he’s been both witness and active participant in the evolution of the boarding universe. Since taking his first steps on the NJ shoreline, he’s been standing sideways while moving forward, gliding on water, rolling over transitions or floating through powder. Along the way, he’s documented the planet’s best athletes, captured the biggest waves, steepest peaks and the musicians who fill these diverse worlds with sound.

After graduating from UCSC in 1997 with a Masters Degree in Applied Economics and Finance, Jason traded in his calculator for a camera and began his career with Surfer Magazine as the Photographic Editor, a position he would hold until 2003. As a founding member of Concussion Magazine, he’s not only crafted magazines but helped start them from the ground up. Film Credits include Salad Days and Jim’s Ramp Jam.

For the last six years, Jason has circled the globe from Tahiti to New England, The Caribbean to Chile, Hawaii to Africa and everywhere in between creating unique images for clients and magazines alike. He currently resides in San Clemente, CA. Having a weakness for cheese steaks and world-class pizza, he can often be found visiting the Jersey shore when the waves are up.

The above Bio, pulled from Murray’s website (http://www.photomurray.com), sums things up pretty well, but what it doesn’t do is give the reader a true grasp of what it takes to pull his particular lifestyle off. Getting those magic shots means being in the right place at the right time. Meteorological, travel, and creative knowledge are a must, as are countless hours spent bobbing up and down in the ocean and baking on ramp decks, old spice boats, and lonely beaches.  Yes, luck definitely plays a roll in any success story, but truly influential work is indicative of a person being well grounded and in touch with both the time and culture that they mean to represent through their art.  Murray’s photos represent more then simple documentation.  His images have influenced a photographic genre and his ability to capture the relevance of his subjects without sacrificing aesthetic value is what truly sets him apart from the competition. (more…)

When you constantly test your limits against nature and your environment it is sometimes all to easy to develop a bit of an inflated ego.  Sure you can catch a 30′ wave, paddle 32-miles non-stop, or swim from Catalina to Long Beach, but no matter how big you think you are, count on someone or something to come by and put you in your place.  Forget about sharks, jellies, and other aquatic meanies.  It never hurts to remember that the biggest and baddest fish in the sea probably eats diesel, craps bilge water, and takes three miles to come to a complete stop (on the flip side it could be microscopic and have a weakness to antibiotics).  Man has far surpassed anything short of a Natural Disaster by way of posing a threat to the individual waterman or woman.  Between the water born pollution and increased boat traffic, even a big guy on a 18′ board doesn’t come close to the top of the pyramid.  Sometimes it can pay to remember that once you enter the Ocean, you enter into the food chain.  The best advice when in search of aquatic adventure is to know your route, know your conditions, have a back up plan and preferably a partner, and don’t forget your sunscreen.

“Don’t live life in the shadows”

Dana Point's Matt Belanger, far from home and too close for comfort.

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