7 New Years Resolutions Every Swimmer Should Consider

7 New Years Resolutions Every Swimmer Should Consider

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When you’re involved in competitive swimming, there’s a lot you need to keep in mind throughout the year. However, as the new year approaches, you may be starting to think about what your new years resolution should be. When you tie your resolution into your swim team, it can serve a number of purposes. The following are some of the resolutions you should consider setting, whether you participate in swim teams or you swim recreationally.

Eat Healthier

It’s so easy to just grab something unhealthy on the go when you’re moving so quickly between practices and meets and the other elements of your already busy life, such as work, school or personal events. This coming year, make it a point to eat healthier to give yourself a proper boost in your swimming performance.

Spend Quality Time with Teammates

Start your new years resolution related to competitive swimming.
Competitive swimming calls for new years resolutions.

Another problem many swimmers experience is a disconnect with their teammates when they aren’t at the pool. A great way to forge even greater team work among those on swim teams is to spend time together away from the pool as well.

Try Something New

Perhaps you’re best at one particular stroke and haven’t really explored anything else. There’s a good chance you could perform just as well, if not better, with another stroke as well. The new year is a great time to diversify and try out some new strokes to help you broaden your spectrum and experience new things.

Get More Sleep

Sleep is necessary to help your body heal in between your workouts, but it’s easy to short yourself on sleep in order to make sure you get everything done. If you’ve been guilty of this, make sure you make it a new years resolution to get more sleep this year. Your body will thank you.

Train Your Brain

Competitive swimming is almost just as much mental as it is physical. Therefore, it’s important to take a positive outlook and focus on your mental health so you can become the best swimmer you can be.

Reflect, But Don’t Linger

It’s important to be able to look at your past races and learn something from them, but you shouldn’t linger on your losses. Use them as a learning experience and move forward to use that information to do better next time.

Pick Up Journaling

It can be difficult to keep track of how well you’re doing with your swimming if you aren’t keeping some type of record of your training. This year, consider picking up journaling so you can determine what’s working and what isn’t to create the ultimate workout.

If you’re ready to move forward on your swim team and need the right gear, contact us. We carry everything you need to become the best swimmer you can be.

What to Look for in a Swim Parka

What to Look for in a Swim Parka

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With the colder weather, many people may think outdoor swimming isn’t really a thing. However, when it comes to competitive swimming, many teams still swim outdoors, even in the colder months of the year. This means swimmers need to find ways to keep their bodies warm on the side of the pool to ensure they can still perform their best. One of the best ways to do this is with a custom swim parka. As you shop for the right swim parka for you, whether you choose a Speedo swim parka or one from another major swimming brand, there are several things you should look for.

The Lining

A swim parka keeps you warm on the sidelines.
Stay warm on the sidelines with a swim parka.

One of the most important elements of choosing the right swim parka is the lining. The primary goal of this piece of swim gear is to keep you warm on the side of the pool, particularly in the colder months of the year. A good custom swim parka should be lined with fleece or faux fur. However, fleece is often preferred as it dries faster. Fur can also feel scratchy when you wear it. Therefore, you should only choose faux fur if you intend to wear your parka after drying off well.

Storage

You have a lot to worry about when you’re on the side of the pool. Chances are you aren’t going to want to wear your swim cap and goggles when you’re waiting for your next round in the pool. For this reason, it’s important to select a swim parka that has plenty of pockets to keep these little items close by. You might even want to keep your MP3 player in one of the pockets so you can listen to some relaxing music in between your races.

Ventilation

While the main purpose of a swim parka is to keep your body warm when you can’t be in the water, air flow is important. Properly positioned ventilation will help keep your body warm and allow you to effectively dry off over time without creating a cold feeling. This is why it’s best to choose a parka designed particularly for swimmers.

Customization

You want to show off your team spirit and what better way to do this than to choose custom gear? However, not all swim parkas can be easily customized. Look for options with a vast selection of colors or those that can have your team logo or your name embroidered on them for greater customization.

If you’re looking for the best swim parka to meet your needs, contact us. We carry all the products you need to be the most effective swimmer, no matter the season.

Why Your Fitness Program Should Include Swimming

Why Your Fitness Program Should Include Swimming

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Many people are aware there are some physical and even mental benefits to competitive swimming. The good news is these benefits can easily carry over into adding swimming as part of your normal fitness routine. In fact, when you use the right tools, including TYR flex fins or Speedo rubber swim fins, you can enhance the workout you get and make sure you are as fit as possible in other areas of your life as well.

Build Up Your Strength

Competitive swimming can help you get fit.
Get fit when you add competitive swimming to your exercise.

One of the primary reasons to turn to competitive swimming as part of your fitness routine is to build up strength. Swimming uses many parts of the body and muscles you may not use in other types of exercise. This allows you to build up strength in ways you can’t if you don’t utilize swimming as part of your workout. The good news is swimming is gentler on the joints than other forms of exercise, which means it’s easier for more individuals to implement. When you add swim fins, you can increase the resistance that will help build muscle.

A Cardiovascular Workout

Cardio is an essential element of your workout routine, but it can be difficult to find the right ways of adding it to your routine. Many cardio exercises are intense, which means they aren’t right for everyone. Swimming can be the ideal solution to this problem. You will get the cardio workout you’re looking for without adding a lot of stress to your workout routine.

An Enjoyable Activity

While some people enjoy their time at the gym, many people would rather be spending their time somewhere else, but they understand the importance of getting and staying fit. Therefore, it’s best to try to find something you enjoy doing, which will make working out that much easier. Swimming can be the perfect way to implement something a little more fun into your exercise routine. You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t enjoy swimming at least to a degree.

Adding competitive swimming or just general recreational swimming to your exercise routine can be the ideal solution to give you even greater benefits. The goal of any exercise routine is to help you get fit and stay fit. When you mix things up with some swimming, you can reap all of the benefits while having a good time.

If you’re looking for the best competitive swimming gear to meet your needs, contact us. We carry everything you need, whether you’re involved in competitive swimming or you’re more of a casual swimmer.

5 Ways to Recover from a Swim Meet

5 Ways to Recover from a Swim Meet

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Swim teams can be a great way to stay fit and to socialize with other people, particularly those who have common interests. One of the biggest aspects of joining a swim team is the swim competition. You’re likely to participate in a number of meets each year, allowing you to showcase the skills you’ve learned and strive toward becoming an even stronger swimmer than the last meet. However, it’s not just about the meets themselves. Once you’re done with your competitive swimming meet, you’ll need to recover. The following tips will ensure you have a fast, safe recovery.

Take a Rest Day

Competitive swimming requires sufficient recovery times.
Boost your recovery when you participate in competitive swimming.

One of the biggest mistakes individuals make when it comes to competitive swimming recovery is not taking a rest day. Many swimmers feel if they take a day off, they’re hurting their progress toward becoming a better swimmer, but this isn’t the case at all. Not only is a rest day critical to maintain your physical health, but it’s also beneficial to your mental welfare.

Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is an essential element to your body’s recovery period as well. This is because when you’re asleep is when the growth hormones do their work most effectively. Even if you’re getting the recommended eight or nine hours of sleep per night, don’t hesitate to take a nap as well if you feel like you need it.

Eat Properly

You may not feel like eating right after a meet, but it’s important to give your body the nutrients it needs to recover as soon as possible. The first 15 minutes after your meet is the most critical when your body can most efficiently replenish carbohydrates so it’s necessary to eat a carb-rich snack immediately after your meet. Be sure to drink as well so you can properly re-hydrate.

Consider a Massage

Massages can have a large number of benefits, even if you aren’t a competitive swimmer. However, if you want to help boost your recovery, a massage is an excellent option. A good massage will stimulate blood flow, which ensures your muscles get the nutrients they need.

Take a Recovery Swim

It may seem counter-intuitive, but it can actually be useful to indulge in a recovery swim. If your meet was in the late afternoon or evening, take your recovery swim in the morning. For a swim meet that takes place in the morning or early afternoon, an evening recovery swim can be ideal.

If you’re looking for the best gear for your swim competitions, contact us. We carry everything you need to become the most effective swimmer.

5 Last Minute Gifts for Competitive Swimmers

5 Last Minute Gifts for Competitive Swimmers

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Getting all your shopping done for the Christmas can be overwhelming and a daunting process. If you’ve got swimmers on your Christmas list, it can be difficult to find just what they need. However, there are some competitive swim products you can buy as last minute gifts if you find yourself out of ideas and running out of time.

A New Towel

A swimmer can never have too many towels, particularly if they aren’t a big fan of doing laundry on a regular basis. However, not just any towel will do when it comes to competitive swimmers who spend a lot of time in the pool. The Speedo Sports Towel Chamois is the ideal choice when it comes to easily drying yourself off after you’re done in the pool. These towels are incredibly absorbent and dry quickly for easy transport.

Speedo Vanquisher Goggles

Competitive swimming products make great last minute gifts.
Consider these competitive swimming products for last minute gifts.

Choosing the best Speedo goggles can be a real challenge, especially if you’re not too familiar with goggles in general. The Vanquisher 2.0 Mirrored Goggles are a perfect option for both indoor and outdoor use with their reflective lenses. They also offer greater peripheral vision capabilities, which improves visibility in the water. A spare set of goggles is never a bad idea for any swimmer.

Speedo Backpack

Another great gift for the swimmer in your life is a Speedo team backpack. These backpacks are specially designed to transport all of their equipment easily from one place to another. This often includes special pockets for holding your wet items separately from the things that shouldn’t get wet.

Swim MP3 Player

There’s no better way to enjoy your time in the water, especially while you’re training, than having a good swim MP3 player like the Finis Duo Swim MP3 Player. This allows swimmers to enjoy their favorite motivational music while they train without worrying about getting their MP3 player wet and breaking it.

Swim Cap

A swim cap is an easy option when you’re looking for something fast and easy for the swimmer in your life. However, it’s essential to know what type of swim cap they prefer because there are many types. Once you have this information, though, you can find the perfect option, even if it’s just something fun for them to wear while they are training.

If you’re looking for the best competitive swimming products to give the special swimmer in your life this holiday season, contact us. We have everything swimmers need to be successful.

4 Reasons Competitive Swimmers Should Be Lifting Weights

4 Reasons Competitive Swimmers Should Be Lifting Weights

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Weights aren’t likely one of the first pieces of competitive swim equipment you may think about using, but they can be an essential element in your training routine. In fact, if you aren’t using weight lifting as part of your training, you are likely missing out on some valuable benefits. The following are some of the reasons you should focus on lifting weights to train for your competitive swimming meets.

Increase Overall Strength

Competitive swimming can benefit from weight training.
Weight training should be part of your preparations for competitive swimming.

As you would expect from adding weight lifting to your competitive swimming training, you will see an overall increase in your strength. This can be a valuable asset. Not only does it help you swim faster, but it can also increase your endurance, thus benefiting your overall performance.

Fewer Injuries

One of the biggest issues many swimmers are concerned with is suffering from injuries. Unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee you won’t experience an injury, but there are ways you can reduce your risks. When you use weights as part of your training, you improve the flexibility in your joints and also increase muscle mass, which can better protect your joints as well. This greatly reduces your chances of being injured during practices or meets.

Stay in Shape

Although some swimmers participate throughout the year, there are some seasonal swimmers that need to make an extra effort to stay in shape during the off season. Weight lifting can be an effective way to stay in shape during the times when you aren’t hitting the pool on a regular basis. When the new season does arrive, you will then spend less time getting back into shape.

Improved Mental Health

Your mental health is just important to the success of your competitive swimming as your physical strength and health. Working out and lifting weights can be a great way to give yourself the mental boost you need. The hormones released when you work out help you feel good about yourself and can help you keep a positive focus when it comes to your performance in the water.

If you’re looking for the best competitive swimwear products, including weight sets, contact us. We carry all the tools you need for the most effective training sessions.

3 Ways To Improve Your Pre-Race Routine

3 Ways To Improve Your Pre-Race Routine

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When you’re swimming competitively, it’s only natural to feel somewhat nervous as race time approaches. The good news is there are many techniques you can use to help you calm those nerves and ensure you are completely focused on your swimming. When you utilize these tips, your competitive swimming for swim teams will become that much more effective.

A Natural Reaction

Anxiety surrounding swimming competitively can be a good thing.
Harness the power of anxiety when swimming competitively.

The first thing you need to recognize is being nervous is absolutely normal. Even if you can’t tell, everyone feels it. It’s the body’s natural response to situations that trigger the fight or flight reflex. It’s all in how you manage it that makes a difference, particularly as you look at your overall performance. For the most part, consider this your body’s way of preparing for the race ahead.

Channel That Energy

You may feel as though your anxiety before your swim means something is wrong, but this isn’t really the case. Therefore, instead of trying to stop your feelings of nervousness, it’s typically best to find ways to channel and use them to your benefit instead. Because the symptoms of nervousness are simply your body getting hyped up for your performance, you can actually tap into this power and give yourself a boost when you hit the water. Trying to get rid of the anxiety entirely will only serve to make it worse. When it’s out of control, you won’t be at your best.

Focus on the Outcome

As you prepare for your race with swim teams, it’s essential to focus on the outcome of your race. Visualization is an important technique that can help you perform better and ease the feelings of anxiety and tension as race time approaches. Close your eyes for a few minutes and think about how it feels to move through the water and the motions you take throughout your race.

It can feel overwhelming when you feel nervous before a swimming race, but the good news is you can  use it to your advantage. When you follow these tips, you will be able to harness the power of your nerves and perform even better.

If you’re looking for the right competitive swimwear and gear for your competitive swimming, contact us. We carry everything you need to participate in your swim teams.

How to Put on a Technical Suit

How to Put on a Technical Suit

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If you’ve never worn technical racing suits before, you may have asked yourself how swimmers ever get themselves in and out of this tight, form-fitting performance swimwear. While these suits certainly fit swimmers like a second skin, with a little practice, you’ll be putting yours on easily in no time. There are a few tricks you can learn to help make this process simpler.

Make Sure It’s Dry

Performance swimsuits can be difficult to put on.
Learn how to put on performance swimsuits.

You’ll be swimming in a pool so it’s reasonable to assume you and your gear are going to get wet. However, when it comes time to put on your technical suit, it’s essential to make sure it is completely dry. A dry suit is much easier to put on than a wet suit that is likely to stick to your body as you try to pull it on.

Take Your Time

You may be in a rush, but hurrying to put on technical racing suits can have a detrimental impact on the longevity of your suit and it will end up taking longer. It can take up to 30 minutes or sometimes more to get into your suit. Be sure you don’t yank on the suit and pull with your hands, not your fingers because your fingernails can puncture the suit.

You’ll Need to Wiggle

Performance swimwear, such as TYR tech suits, are as tight as they look. The goal of these suits is to fit like a second skin and create a more hydrodynamic body. This means you’ll need to wiggle a bit, especially in certain areas, such as the hips.

Use the Grip Strips

If you’re swimwear offers rubberized grip strips inside the legs or waist, make use of them. In order to use them properly, you will need to turn parts of your suit inside out to use them but they can be a valuable resource in helping you get into your technical suit.

Test Your Range of Motion

Once you feel as though your suit is securely in place, check out the fit in the mirror to make sure the suit lies smoothly against your skin. It can also be useful to move your arms and legs a bit to ensure you have the proper range of motion.

If you’re looking for the right performance swimwear for your needs, contact us. We carry a full array of swimwear to suit every swimmer.

Why Wearing a Tech Suit Can Makes You Swim Faster

Why Wearing a Tech Suit Can Makes You Swim Faster

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As you choose your competitive swimwear, you will notice there are many types from which you can choose. However, when it comes down to it, there’s one type that can actually help you swim faster, while still staying within regulations. Whether you choose Speedo tech suits, Arena tech suits or any other brand, you will see a noticeable improvement as long as you continue to work hard toward your goals.

Competitive swimwear can help you perform better.
Perform better with the right competitive swimwear.

What Makes Tech Suits Better?

The biggest question many competitive swimmers have when it comes to whether tech suits can make you swim faster is how can what you’re wearing possibly have that big of an impact on your performance. It’s all in the way they are constructed and the materials used. The biggest names in swimming do a lot of research to determine which materials will reduce drag in the water, as well as in developing new technology that can be used to achieve even greater results. These suits are designed for optimal compression and often include hidden seams that don’t create more drag in the water.

A Psychological Benefit

When you put on tech suits as your competitive swimwear, there’s a clear physical benefit due to the makeup of the suit, but this isn’t the only advantage you will have in the water. Like many other aspects of swimming, part of your performance is psychological. After all, many swimmers are taught to visualize their movements in the water to help them swim more effectively. When you put on tech suits, you will feel better about yourself. The joy of putting on something new that is designed with performance in mind can give you the mental boost you need to actually do better each time you enter the pool.

Records Have Been Set

You don’t have to take our word for the performance improvements competitive swimmers see when it comes to wearing Speedo tech suits and Arena tech suits. In fact, if you look at world and Olympic records that have been set in recent years, the benefits of these types of suits quickly becomes clear.

If you’re looking for the best competitive swimwear, including tech suits, contact us. We carry all types of swimsuits so you can find the one that best suits your needs and helps you perform your best.

Best Stopwatches for Competitive Swimmers

Best Stopwatches for Competitive Swimmers

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Time is everything when you’re involved in competitive swimmer. As you continue your training, it’s important to be able to keep track of your times and monitor them for improvements as you grow and learn. Therefore, stopwatches for swimming are among the most essential pieces of competitive swimming equipment you need to invest in. The following are among the best stopwatches so you can find the one that works best for your needs.

Ultrak 495

Stopwatches for swimming are an invaluable training tool.
Use stopwatches for swimming to track your times.

The Ultrak 495 stopwatch ranks among the best when it comes to competitive swimming products. Not only does it work great for keeping track of your swim times, but it is also extremely durable and is built to last. It’s water resistant and the buttons are easy to press. In addition to the typical splits and overall times most people are looking for in stopwatches for swimming, this stopwatch can help track the swimmer’s stroke rate and frequency and can store up to 100 swim times. There is also a useful calendar function.

Accusplit Single Split

If you’re looking for a swimming stopwatch that is simple, the Accusplit Single Split stopwatch can be the ideal option. The display features extra large number so it’s easy to read, even from a distance. It is water resistant up to 100 feet and extra shock resistant so it’s durable under normal use. In addition, the cumulative split time feature allows you to easily track your laps and your overall swim time.

Seiko 300 Split Link to PC Solar Stopwatch

Being able to easily transfer your data to your computer can help you save your times and evaluate them over a much longer period of time than stopwatches that simply store a specific number of times internally. This piece of competitive swimming equipment can still store up to 300 split or lap times, for up to 100 hours of swim time. Perhaps one of the best features of this stopwatch is it has a battery that can be recharged with the power of the sun. Simply set the stopwatch in direct sunlight for half a day and the battery can power the stopwatch for a month.

Investing in a stopwatch can help you track your swim times and monitor your improvement as you continue to train. If you’re looking for the right stopwatches for swimming, along with any other competitive swimming products, contact us. We carry everything you need to train as effectively as possible.