Trent Grimsey knows open water swimming – he’s the fast person to cross the English Channel. Trent is also an esteemed coach. Here’s some tips for triathletes (but they obviously serve the pure open water swimmer too).

Here are some tips to help you have a great triathlon swim on race day!

Swim Start

• Start Position: For Elite swimmers, on the start line always position yourself directly beside the fastest swimmer in the field. Age Groupers should position themselves in the crowd with swimmers of comparable ability. Ask the athletes around you what is their expected swim time.

• Get in the Slipstream. For Elite swimmers, when the race begins, get in the slipstream of that swimmer straight away (directly behind him or her) and stay there for as long as you can. Age Groupers should draft behind a swimmer(s) similar or slightly faster than your ability.

• Level of Aggression. Don’t be aggressive (it wastes too much energy)!

• Stay Positive. Keep happy thoughts!

• Stay Positive. Keep happy thoughts!

Pack Swimming

• Positioning in the Pack. Because most triathletes are inexperienced swimmers, packs will always be very tight and rough. If you’re a strong swimmer you can get away with swimming on the outside of the pack, where there will be a little less drag, however you will have a lot more room to move and will not have to be jostling with someone either side of you the whole way. If you’re a weaker swimmer you’ll just have to get in the middle of the pack and fight like hell not to get dropped.

Want to get deep into Trent’s training system. Check out his training program.