eric
 
Eric Reviews the Finis Snorkel

snorkel

Last year while visiting Trisports during the Tucson Camp, I purchased a Finis front snorkel for swimmers.  It stayed in its box until July, when I started my swim training for Timberman.  I made my way from the locker room to the pool carrying goggles, fins, a pull buoy, paddles, my swim mp3, the front snorkel, thinking “this is ridiculous!  Go back to kiss (keep it simple stupid) and just swim damn it!”.  Truth is I dread swimming indoors and use all these things to break up the boredom and get in more yardage (I’m old school – grew up swimming yards and the pools I still swim in are yards).  I think that short fins are really beneficial, but everything else should be left behind for most.  Well now I think the front snorkel is also extremely beneficial and should be in the swim bags of most out there if they really want to improve their swimming.

Let’s mention that I am in no way sponsored or endorsed by Finis.  If they want to send me some free stuff, I’ll gladly accept it though.  After warming up, I put the funny contraption on and started out on a 500.  I was a bit annoyed at first because I couldn't flip turn, but soon the benefits far overshadowed this minor issue.  What I noticed was that I pull much more with my left side when I go to breathe!  I would have thought just the opposite given that I’m right handed and breathe primarily to the right.  How’d I figure this out?  Simple, I didn’t have to worry about breathing, so all my focus was on my stroke.  It really made me aware of the imbalance in my symmetry while swimming. 

Some other things I became quite aware of in only my first time using the snorkel;  my catch drops a bit too low for both hands/arms, meaning my hands drift down a little further than I’d like upon entering the water.  I also was able to focus more on rotating my whole body as I sculled through the water. 

I’m an experienced swimmer and I thought I had reached a point where my stroke was my stroke.  However there is a reason why every swimmer on the last Olympics team was issued two of these (in case they lost one).  Everyone can benefit from this tool, yet new swimmers will benefit the most because it takes the breathing equation away for them.  A beginner’s biggest issue in swimming is relaxing in the water and when they don’t have to worry about getting a breath, they can relax and focus on their stroke.  Most beginners over breathe – they twist their necks too much and look towards the sky as though every breath may be their last.  Imagine not having to worry about this and being able to focus solely on all those things that the experts have been telling you to focus on.  The snorkel has an optional nose plug for purchase which I don’t use, although I would recommend it for novice swimmers.  Without it, unless you are very comfortable in the water, you will be sucking water in through your nose.

The most difficult thing that I have a feeling most will encounter with the front snorkel is that they will feel silly with this contraption, and more so with it and a nose plug.  If you are more concerned about what others may think about your new look at the pool, then you may want to skip investing in the front snorkel.  If you are interested in becoming a better swimmer and making huge improvements in your form, then invest away.  Considering that most purchases in this sport are quite costly, this low priced item is a bargain.

Cheers,

EH

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