Flying North
There is change is in the air at Fit&Abel after a record setting summer in NZ. A plethora of warm sunny days has meant endless opportunities for Open Water Swimming. Our Open Water Fitness and Technique Series continued to establish itself on the Christchurch swim calendar as a fun social environment for open water swimmers to develop their craft. Next summers series is already open with season passes available https://fitandabel.com/events-bookings/fitabel-summer-201213-series/open-water-fitness-and-technique-series/. While I prepare to fly north for the Northern Hemisphere season Fit&Abel’s NZ program will be in good hands with coach Henry Lawson helping Christchurch based swimmers refine and develop their swim technique over the...
Cook Strait Success!
Thanks for all the requests asking for my personal account of my recent Cook Strait swim. I wrote the following as I waited for my swim window… Here I am two days out from my first tide window. Everything you read and hear about the difficulty in waiting for that swim window to open is true. No amount of willing will make the weather and tides conspire so patience is a must....
Cook Strait
For those who have not visited the website of late; Fit&Abel’s Dan Abel has grand plans of swimming Cook Strait this year. The support coming in has been terrific though not surprising. The global swimming fraternity are renowned for being such a fun, social and supportive bunch. The following is from Dan:...
The Psychology of Swimming
How many of you have watched an elite Olympic level athlete on television and heard mention of their mental preparation for an upcoming competition? Now hands up how many of you who thought this type of training was only useful to the best of the best? ...
Swimming into 2013
Here are the most common swim coaching inquires to Fit&Abel over December and January: - I want to swim faster and more efficiently - I have trouble with my breathing - I am training for an open water swim or triathlon and need help - I have had shoulder trouble/injury If you have any one or multiple of these questions on the tip of your tongue you can see you are not alone. Here are some swim tips to help you on your way: Both swimming fitness and swimming technique will help you swim more efficiently and faster. Don’t neglect one for the other. Get some help; did you...
Goodbye 2012
What a year; Olympic swimming magic, good bye Michael Phelps and no surprise at the continued meteoric rise in the popularity of Open Water swimming. Some thoughts to finish 2012 … the most common goal I hear from a new swim client is : ‘I want to swim faster and more efficiently’. Is this achievable for everyone? Absolutely. Is it something your loved one can buy for you and place gift wrapped under the tree to be opened on on Christmas day? Yes and no. ‘Eh?’ I hear you say. Yes : knowledge is power. A swim technique book or video can help, swim lessons or swim membership to a swim group...
Fit&Abel Summer Downunder
Fit&Abel head coach Dan Abel is now back in New Zealand after 30 odd hours of travel back from the UK – it’s hard work following the sun. We have some great partners and swim opportunities this summer and if the first few weeks are anything to go by we are in for an action packed summer of open water swimming. We have started our Open Water Technique swims and our Ocean Skills swims. It’s not a silly idea to get your stroke sorted before heading into the Open Water, we are passionate about personalising technique training to YOU which is why we also offer 121 swim...
Swimming Around The World
I spent the majority of my swimmer career competing against and comparing myself to other swimmers. There are many factors that now entice me to open water swimming , one of the big draw cards is a desire take on and beat my toughest critic and competitor – myself. That is one of the reasons I can relate to the challenge that fellow open water swimmer Kate Willoughby is about to embark on as she sets out to become the first to ‘swim around the world’. Kate will be taking on that toughest of swimmer partners – her own mental spirit and fortitude....
Little Red Lighthouse Swim
Thanks to Simon for sharing his account of his recent 'Little Red Lighthouse Swim' Hudson Rover, NYC, 22 Sep...
That’s A Wrap
And so draws to a close an historical summer in London. Not that London is short of historical but this summer has certainly been one for the books. London 2012; Some of the most competitive and entertaining Olympic swimming ever, both in the pool and to my surprise the Serpentine delivered an amazing event in the 10km open water. The support and noise at the Paralympics has been at least equal to the Olympics. For us part time swimmers we have had a plethora of swim events, many unfortunately were postponed or cancelled due to the wettest summer in the last century; how ironic that...