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Winter training for spearoes

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
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sjurba

Well-Known Member
Feb 9, 2010
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Weve had weather colder than 15minus for the last week, wich means that the lakes here is freezing over fast,so what to do? Unfortunately our local swimmingpool is closed for mainenance,ALL WINTER!!! The closest swimmingpool that is longer than 12 meters and deeper than 1,8, is an hours drive away and no diving gear alloved...So how do I keep my diving fitness up over winter?
 
Maybe try tables and interval cardio training and apnea walking.

Just some ideas
 
I do some sporadic strictly freediving related training,some tables,drystatics training,apnea working, I do breatholds while performing work that usually should be done with a mask,like emtying the dust from my industrial vacumecleaner,cutting tiles/bricks etc. One thing that worries me with the freediving oriented training programs is that they are designed for pushing yourself really hard a couple of times,whereas when spearfishing you dive repeatedly well within your max,but diving stamina is what is recuired..I like to compare freediving and spearfishing to sprinting and marathon, its both running,but the training is diffrent.
When I started freediving/spearfishing a few years ago my static max was just over two minutes,and my average spearing dive was 40-60 seconds,now my static is a bit over four and a half minutes and my spearing average is 1minute-1 minute 20 seconds,I guess I have a higer "safety" factor now than then.
In the pool I used to do hundred meter laps with a one minute static on the bottom of the deep end (5m),it would take me just under two minutes to swim the hundred meters,slow swimming as if holding my position in a current.An hour or so of this a couple of times a week has worked a treat,but now I have to come up with something else,Its abit too cold and icy for running outside for my liking.So maybe a static bike? just for legstrenght and stamina.
 
Looks like you know (and practice) a lot more than me. That's a hard one to work in stamina and breath hold at the same time. Maybe do endurance bike rides/bike machine with random breath holds along the way eg cycle for half an hour at a steady pace and do 6 1 minute breath holds whilst still cycling?? Just a suggestion and I don't know how effective/safe it is.
 
mmm.... passing out while riding a bicycle,why do I get jackass pictures in my head ?
 
At least your sat down. I imagine it would be a lot worse on a treadmill........ Imagine the friction burns : s
 
Its a shame you cant get out running, with the ice around - i took up running this year and it made a massive difference to my overall fitness and spearo stamina, altho i'm not into running on roads, prefer cliff paths.
Could you run a treadmill with a rucksack full of lead weights? i was running with 15kg lead in a bag and it allowed me some slow hilly lungbuster sessions...
 
That sounds like hard training,gonna get my skies out at least , now that the snow is here
 
Let's. Get. A endomond deeper blue group on the go

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i phone or android get the app for free. Run dog walk ski mtb swim paddle or jut out on your bike .endomondo.
 
Instead of a bike did you ever try the concept 2 rowing machine? Its a fantastic core workout and also builds strength in the legs and arms/back, perfect for spearfishing/finswiming/freediving. Also they have a nice split time program built in, row 1 min rest 1 min, row 2 mins rest 2 mins and so on. What I do is row like hell then in the rest period do 1 min or longer breath holds. Can get pretty tough but simulates a good spearing session pretty well I think. Your also positioned a lot closer to the ground....
 
After you get decent in calm water, go out with some experienced.But Your 1st mistake is jumping in with gear, that you haven't trained. Usually when do you start spearfishing after winter. Thanks your post, I read the forum post care fully.
 
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Ahh... I do not miss British winters

I think the best dry training is apnea biking plus some kettlebells and stretching. I suppose it depends on what kind of spearing you do but for me 'spearfishing' involves a lot of rough entries and humping gear/game up and down cliffs, and the diving aspect involves crawling around a lot of structure.

I do an exercise bike with the resistance set fairly high so my pulse is between 130-150 bpm, about 65 rpm. Then just start intervals... Usually something like 30 sec hold/30 sec rest for ten minutes (1:1), then crank up the intensity to 40 sec hold/20 sec rest (2:1), final set is usually something 3:1... This is a higher intensity/work load than I usually dive at but then again while I am happy dive 5 hours at a time, don't want to pedal a bike that long!

Kettlebells--mixed exercises like swings, press-ups, turkish get-ups, some twists. Keeps legs and core strong for emergencies and ascents from deeper dives.. I do usually 2 or 3 x10 reps each exercise. Then some ab work, followed by some deep stretching and/or plyometric training that also emphasizes flexibilty (ie kicks on a heavy bag)

If I can get to a pool then of course DYN sets and CAREFUL negative stretching and DYN.

We can dive year round in southern california but winter storms sometimes create a couple weeks of conditions where it just isn't much fun.
 
thats some serious training schedule Lance. out of interest, do you get seasonal fish out there, or is it just the same all year?
 
Jonny250 said:
thats some serious training schedule Lance. out of interest, do you get seasonal fish out there, or is it just the same all year?
Click to expand...

Well, training is like for diving is like diving--just take it slow and work up to it, and try to keep it consistent. A lot of our local hunting is relatively shallow but I like to stay in shape for when I travel, where the day may start with 80' dives and then just get deeper from there.

Our typical reef fish (perch, etc) are pretty much the same all year round and plentiful. Many of these are fine eating but they don't get very big--maybe 2-3 lbs max. Generally they are not difficult to shoot. Our game fish, however, are mostly seasonal and can get very large. White seabass and yellowtail run in the summer, they are pelagics. Lingcod and cabezon come in from deep water in winter. They hide in caves and holes. Halibut are year round but during their summer and winter spawn they move into very shallow water. We also have spiny lobster. They are around all year but legally can be hunted for only about 5 months during the winter. Sheephead are around year round, and can get very large, but they are slow and stupid and many experienced spearos do not shoot them; their meat is mushy.
 
How about:
* Snorkeling at your local pool if/when they allow it. Failing that, swim some laps.
* Walking for distance (endurance without excessive breathing - also handy if you face long/steep walk-ins)
* Yoga (practice getting & staying calm, breath control, stretch out to loosen any tight muscles)
* Sawing, carrying and chopping fire wood (not sure what the benefit might be but I find it helps keep me warm ).
 
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Cant beat underwater hockey for winter training in my opinion...Also swimming with breathing every 3,5,7,9 strokes in a pyramid set i find works well
 
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