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Open Water Courses & 1:1 Sessions

Feeling nervous about venturing into the open water? Just getting into Open Water Swimming or Triathlon? We know it can be a bit daunting at first, so we've designed these courses to improve your confidence, skills and speed. We enable you to feel safe and confident in your swimming ability in this new environment, so you can go it alone either just for fun or to complete an upcoming race with ease.

 

We'll improve your swimming technique, help you manage any anxieties you might have and you'll come away feeling inspired to jump in every week. We've offered these popular courses for over a decade now and they're back this season better than ever!

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Held at the Oxford Wakeboard & Ski Centre, Queenford Lakes, Berinsfield.

Summer Fun

Cold Water Immersion £29

Sunday 21st April 2024 8.30am

Oxford Wakeboard & Ski Centre

 

  • Suitable for complete beginners

  • Safe coach led introduction to cold water swimming / dipping

  • Controlling breathing, proper exhalation and staying calm

  • Benefits of cold water explained 

  • Facts and fibs

  • Q&A

  • You must be able to tread water confidently to attend this session

Level 1: Open Water Confidence £29

Monday 6th May 2024 6pm

Oxford Wakeboard & Ski Centre

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If you’re just starting out on your open water swimming journey or a little nervous how to be safe in the open water, then we can help you to: 

  • Get relaxed 

  • Put your face in (optional)

  • Learn to float

  • Get used to a wetsuit (optional in summer)

  • Overcome any fears you might have 

  • Learn safety skills for open water swimming

  • Breastrokers and freestylers welcome

  • You must be able to swim 25m freestyle/front crawl or breast stroke continuously to attend this course, if you can't please come on a pool based course first

  • Open to all abilities

  • One hour session

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Level 2: Beginner Open Water Swimming Course £79

Starts Monday 13th May 2024 7pm 

Oxford Wakeboard & Ski Centre

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  • 3 Week Course (3 x 50min sessions)

  • Swimming freestyle in the open water for the first time

  • Controlling breathing, proper exhalation and staying calm

  • Swimming with your face in the water

  • Sighting to swim in a straight line

  • Confidence swimming close to other people

  • Managing anxieties and phobias

  • Stroke technique modifications for wetsuit swimming

  • Open water skills for endurance races such as the Henley Mile, Lock to Lock, Bridge to Bridge etc.

  • You must be able to swim 50m freestyle/front crawl continuously to attend this course, if you can't please come on a pool based course or 1:1 Swimming Lesson first and get training!

Level 3: Improver Open Water Swimming Course £79

​Starts Sunday 12th May 2024 7am

Oxford Wakeboard & Ski Centre

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  • 3 x 50min sessions

  • Improve your distance freestyle stroke 

  • Individual stroke technique corrections

  • Learn proper open water swimming technique for wetsuit and non-wetsuit swimming events

  • Master breathing to both sides

  • Tune up your sighting technique to swim straighter and faster

  • Learn how to pace your swimming to enable swimming over longer distances

  • Race tips

  • Training tips

  • You must be able to swim 100m freestyle , if you can't please come on a pool based course or 1:1 Swimming Lesson first and get training!

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Pre-Requisites

You must be able to tread water comfortably for Cold Water Swimming, swim 25m freestyle/front crawl or breastroke continuously to complete the Level 1 Course, 50m freestyle for the Level 2: Beginner Open Water Course and 100m for the Level 3: Improver Course. If you need to improve your stroke technique and endurance please also have a look at our very popular Pool Courses or book a 1:1 Pool Swimming Coaching session prior to the course starting and get training!

"I tried swimming on my own in the lake and it was a disaster. I had a panic attack and was pretty much rescued by the safety boat. A friend and I came on the beginner skills course and we were both blown away by Annie's calm coaching nature. She was so supportive in helping build my confidence. It was great swimming around others as I had no idea I would find that so nerve wracking. By the end of the course I was confidently completing loops on my own. Thank you Annie I couldn't have done it without you!

Wetsuit & Equipment Advice & Sales

There's a lot of kit out there so we're here to help you identify what you need and what you don't, good an bad brands and kit that will help you swim faster and more comfortably.

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Please don't go out and buy a cheap thin wetsuit! The water temperature is brisk early season and you will need a minimum of 3mm and potentially other neoprene accessories to keep you warm while you swim.

 

Please get in touch if you need any advice and what you need and we can help you choose and place an order for you. 

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1:1 Open Water Swimming Coaching

Swim Faster & More efficiently

Our personal open water sessions will help you feel more confident. You'll learn how to sight properly and swim in a straight line. You'll improve your technique while your coach paddles next to you in a kayak.

 

You'll be taught how to prevent zig zagging in your races, which can sometimes add 10-20% to your total swimming distance!

 

Suitable for beginners, intermediates and advanced swimmers looking for the edge over your competitors. 

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Sessions Include

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  • Open water swimming technique 

  • Swimming straight

  • Controlling breathing

  • Managing phobias

  • Pacing over long distances

  • Stroke adaptations for wetsuit swimming 

  • Confidence swimming close to other people

  • Race tactics

  • Training tips

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Sessions are held at the Oxford Wakeboard & Ski Centre (Queenford Lakes) in Oxford

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