First samba - not as nice as the first dance!

[Sergiu]

Not related to Rio Carnaval unfortunately!

Well, I wanted to share with other newbies my first samba/near samba, something i am not proud of but thankful as it happened and now i know how serious it can be.

I started doing pool training 2-3 times a week but due to business travel this week i was in a different town and went for a hotel pool. Took some safety measures in the first place. I asked the pool guard to keep an eye on me (you should have seen his face, he thought i'm some sort of weirdo!), wore a bright orange swim short to be easily spotted just in case and did pool legs always finishing in the shallower end (1.40m).

At some point i started doing 25m legs for dynamic without fins to work more on technique rather than distance but after a while i felt comfortable to push a bit harder as i got with some struggle to +40m. I did howver too many repetations as i was relatively tired. I decided on a last attempt to finish two lenghts and make a full 50m which was obviously wrong as i was already rather tired and didnt rest enough before it (being excited to get it done) :head . At 47-48m, so very close to the end, i felt already very dizzy and came out to realise I wasnt able to stand up and was shaking visibly. Fortunately i was 1 m away from the edge and the water was shallow enough so i managed to slowly regain control and clear vision. So now i know...

The learning points for other newbies i feel sharing...
- dont push it, even if it's "just 5 meters" more, especially if you already feel tired and are at the beginning (uncharted territories!) in the training.
- do personal bests when you feel ready not just because you should do better every time. This is probably even more relevant in pool or wet static.
- dont rely on strangers, the pool guard was reading a book (fair enough! - why watch some weirdo for 1 hour!) when i look to see if he was aware of my difficulties.
- dont wait until it's too late, remember that even after coming out, oxygen level still goes down for a few moments - i felt worse for a few seconds even if i was breathing.
- read some threads on this forum, there are some great advices on samba (Loss of Motion Control) and Black-outs that i wish i read before.
-and yes, wear a bright orange swim suit, may not help much but gave me a self-confidence boost and it looks cool!

Will be back in the pool tomorrow but will take it easier - PBs only with buddies around!

Serge

 

[Morg]

I am glad to see you made it out of that safely.

I had someone tell me not to rely on the Life guard (Pool Guard) to watch %100 as well.

The technique aspect I will also be working on when I can. I will be doing small distances and very short holds.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, I have not had SAMBA yet. :t

 

[Merlin]

Serge, glad you're ok. Unfortunately, we tend to learn by experience. After my blackout last summer in the pool, I have gained new respect for the sport. I NEVER NEVER rely on the life guard, I pretend he/she is not even there.

 

[bolts]

Wow, I have to say, you're a lucky individual indeed. I hope you learned your lesson to never wet train without a buddy close by.

 

[Sergiu]

Wow, I have to say, you're a lucky individual indeed. I hope you learned your lesson to never wet train without a buddy close by.

learnt the lesson ...:crutch

Easy to say it here, very hard to put it in practice - i would have to reduce my training to the level it wont be a training any longer if i train only with a buddy around. Where i live (and travel regularely), freediving is not a big thing at all and it is rather hard to find buddies - but you are right.

I will likely stick to light training sessions of swimming and improving techinique only.

Serge

 

[bolts]

learnt the lesson ...:crutch

Easy to say it here, very hard to put it in practice - i would have to reduce my training to the level it wont be a training any longer if i train only with a buddy around. Where i live (and travel regularely), freediving is not a big thing at all and it is rather hard to find buddies - but you are right.

I will likely stick to light training sessions of swimming and improving techinique only.

Serge

I hear you about that. Sometimes it's tempting, but then you realize the risks far outweigh the rewards. Fortunately, you now realize this firsthand.

 

[naiad]

Serge, glad to hear you're ok.

You are very lucky. I understand that it's hard to find a buddy, but it is VERY important to never push the limits alone.

My first samba was a complete blackout - fortunately it was in a pool training session and I was rescued immediately. It did give me a new respect for the sport. Now I don't ever push the limits alone.

Swimming and improving technique is the best thing to do if you don't have a buddy.

Lucia

 

[Morg]

Swimming and improving technique is the best thing to do if you don't have a buddy.

Lucia

I don't mean to take over the thread here but anyone know of any way to improve technique?

Like how do you know you are improving?

 

[Sergiu]

I don't mean to take over the thread here but anyone know of any way to improve technique?

Like how do you know you are improving?

There are two simple ways to determine improvement.
-first is the recording your training rountine and results. If you follow the same routine and keep track (be it minutes, meters, strokes by pool lenght, etc) you will notice that what was two weeks ago difficult may be a breeze now.
-second is the technique - better technique will certainly bring better results. For instance, I now "feel" much better my lungs when i breath, especially when doing the bottom-up (from belly all the way up tot the top of my lungs). Another example is the glide in dynamic without fins. I started with a coctail of moves and strokes but after a pool training with the AIDA Hungary team and seing some videos online, my technique is much better. I'm not doing 3 glides per lenght (25m) as Tom Sietas but i'm hot on his trail! rofl

So, follow the same routine and record your progress, when you feel it's too easy, here you go - improvement and move up with a more demanding routine.

Serge

 

[naiad]

I don't mean to take over the thread here but anyone know of any way to improve technique?

Like how do you know you are improving?

There are many things which can be improved, like swimming or finning style, number of strokes per length, relaxed feeling, weight distribution, turns and duck-dives. It is possible to train these things without going anywhere near the limit.

 

[lungfish]

Hi Morg,
You just need to get two open water experiences with some diligent training between them.....

 

[Morg]

Thanks for posting that advise... I will definatly keep a log of my pool training.

I will be going to the pool every night so hopefully after the 5-6 months I will be very very fast and efficent

Sorry again for taking over your thread

 

[Mr. X]

...the pool guard was reading a book (fair enough! - why watch some weirdo for 1 hour!) when i look to see if he was aware of my difficulties.

Jez...since when has it ever been fair enough for a pool guard to read a book on duty?:vangry

[Thanks for sharing your experience.]

 

[cdavis]

Serge,

Glad you made it. May your first one scare you as deeply as mine scared me. Just curious, how long have you been working on apnea?

Connor

 

[Sergiu]

Serge,

Glad you made it. May your first one scare you as deeply as mine scared me. Just curious, how long have you been working on apnea?

Connor

Yup, it was rather scary becuase i didnt expect it at all and I thought i know my body and how much it can take. On second thoughts I obviously pushed it on this incident, i was well into 1 hour of swimming and the actual time for the 50m attempt was around 1'10" or so. I think it's too much at this stage of training for dynamic without fins when a lot of oxygen is burnt due, well dynamic and a poor technique.

To answer you question, i have started training 2 weeks ago but i have been freediving/skindiving/snorkelling for several years. I fealised that I take too many risks so I did my homework - a lot of it here - found a nice group(AIDA Hungary) to train with so here i go!

Serge

 

[Sergiu]

Jez...since when has it ever been fair enough for a pool guard to read a book on duty?:vangry

[Thanks for sharing your experience.]

Mr.X you're right, it was a load of irony (or self-irony for being dumb to think i can rely on the guard). The reality is clear, cant expect much from a hotel pool guard who's got max 3-4 swimmers and none usually a hot mermaid or polo player (this one for gender balance rofl )

serge

 

[naiad]

Jez...since when has it ever been fair enough for a pool guard to read a book on duty?:vangry

I have seen lifeguards reading, falling asleep and chatting while on duty. Once I asked one of them to spot me for dynamic (it was a freediving session, but I was the only one who turned up) and I surfaced to find him standing on the other end of the 30m pool, with his back to me.

There are also some pool guards who are very helpful and do their job well. Unfortunately I have been let down too many times by those who don't.

Lucia

 

[Mr. X]

I have seen lifeguards reading, falling asleep and chatting while on duty. Once I asked one of them to spot me for dynamic (it was a freediving session, but I was the only one who turned up) and I surfaced to find him standing on the other end of the 30m pool, with his back to me.

There are also some pool guards who are very helpful and do their job well. Unfortunately I have been let down too many times by those who don't.

Lucia

I guess I have been lucky recently, at the two pools I use regularly the lifeguards swap every 10 minutes & stay alert. I notice they are generally most focused at my local pool though, very professional -- and the pool kept clean. I don't push it though & only swim underwater at designated snorkel sessions.

Lifeguards are usually trained to revive pool users in an emergency, not sure if it is reasonable to expect them to deal with regular revival of apeanists pushing their personal bests -- there could be some physical/legal/health risks for them. I guess the practice would allow them to hone their CPR skills though.

 

[naiad]

I guess I have been lucky recently, at the two pools I use regularly the lifeguards swap every 10 minutes & stay alert. I notice they are generally most focused at my local pool though, very professional -- and the pool kept clean. I don't push it though & only swim underwater at designated snorkel sessions.

You are very lucky to have nice pools to train in. Often the water is not clean in some London pools. :yack

Lifeguards are usually trained to revive pool users in an emergency, not sure if it is reasonable to expect them to deal with regular revival of apeanists pushing their personal bests -- there could be some physical/legal/health risks for them. I guess the practice would allow them to hone their CPR skills though.

rofl rofl rofl
I'm going for a PB. Anyone need to brush up their CPR skills?

I don't expect lifeguards to deal with the consequences of my personal bests - if I push the limits, it is only with another freediver. Sometimes during a public pool session a problem has arisen which is nothing to do with pushing the limits, such as someone standing on me and trapping me underwater. :rcard This is when I expect them to help.

 

[Sergiu]

rofl rofl rofl
I'm going for a PB. Anyone need to brush up their CPR skills?

Hey Lucia,

What PB are you after, static or dynamic? And what the target? Good luck and i hope you get a new record in dynamic without...CPR (ever!)

Keep us posted on the results!

serge
PS just read about downing 5 lemons before a new PB attempt, apparently helps -you may want to try it, i will certainly do on my next static attempt! rofl