January 18th 2025

Swim Tips with Boost Coaching

As more swimmers start to embark on the open water season in preparation for the Fulton Hogan Mount Festival Half there are some key things to think about when getting into the Open Water.

One of the key things in open water swimming is

SIGHTING

On a course such as the one at the Fulton Hogan Mount Festival where boats are scattered around the course and sighting is more challenging you’ll need to check your line regularly.

I’d recommend every 6-12 strokes.

Slower swimmers should sight more regularly as they tend to go off line quicker and therefore take longer to get back on course.

As Mark Watson the commentator at the Mount always says “the fastest way between two buoys is a straight line” so if you take poor lines, it’ll take you longer.

 

SIGHTING AND BREATHING

In a recent group training session, I noticed a numbers of swimmers sighting and breathing at the same time.

I like to try and teach swimmers to make this two separate movements or actions to reduce the chance of taking in water while lifting your head up to look forward!

  1. Sight to the front
  2. Breath to the side

Examples to try at your next session

If you were going for a run or a walk – “is it normal or comfortable to breathe while looking at the sky?”

The answer I’d hope is “NO”.

So if you imagine that position (looking at the sky) to be your sighting & breathing position. It’s much harder to get in a good breath doing this way. Your breathing becomes quite shallow and restricted by the stretched out neck and chest position.

Compare that to simply having your head in a neutral position (breathing to the side) and your ability to take in oxygen is easy and physically unrestricted.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Take a look at THIS VIDEO and practice getting your eyes out of the water to sight but then turning to the side to breathe.

By doing this you

  1. Will reduce the drop of your hips and kick by having to lift your head up too high
  2. Will reduce the amount of effort required from your kick to get your head up to sight and breath
  3. Will be less likely to take in water in the mouth by breathing to the front.

Any questions after watching the video please feel free to jump into our Open Facebook Group and reach out – Boost My Swim https://www.facebook.com/groups/boostmyswim

Aucklanders come join us most Saturdays for Open Water Swim Training – visit our site below for all the details. https://www.boostcoaching.co.nz/open-water-swim-coaching

All the best with your preparation for the Fulton Hogan Mount Festival of Multisport

Andrew Mackay
Head Coach – Boost Coaching
www.boostcoaching.co.nz

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Welcome to the Fulton Hogan Mount Festival website!

Our staff are currently on Christmas break and will be returning to the office on January 6th.

BEFORE sending us an email enquiry please look through our key information below and through our website to answer any questions. Anything outside of this we will look to get back to you on our return. Enjoy the festival season!

Key Event Information
  • All online entries are OPEN until Wednesday 15th January (unless sold out prior), you can enter here:
  • Participant registration, expo, and bike racking is on Friday 17th January, 2.30-6.30pm at the Event Village (Pilot Bay)
  • Please thoroughly read through your event race manual, this has ALL of the information you will need regarding your race. Each event race manual can be found here:
    - Loan Market Oceanside Tauranga Half
    - AquaBike
    - Waitoa Mount Festival Half Marathon
  • Refunds: If you have purchased the refund protection and are seeking a refund, please follow this link for instructions on how to proceed. If you did not purchase the refund protection through Race Roster with your entry, you are not eligible for any refund.
  • Deferrals: If you did not purchase the recommended refund protection, you may be eligible for a deferral on a circumstantial basis. Requests for deferrals to 2026 must be made prior to 13th January. Deferrals require a medical certificate for approval, and all accepted deferrals will incur a $50 admin fee (to be paid upon 2026 entry). Please send all the required details through to . If you have transferred previously you will not be able to defer again, and if you defer this year, no further changes can be made to your entry.
  • Onsite entries - yes you can enter onsite! (unless sold out prior) Friday 17th Jan, 2.30pm-6.30pm!