Author: kturtenwald

Kimberly is a freelance writer and editor who loves to travel and see new places. Iceland is her favorite place to go and has begun to feel like a second home. She’s excited to share her knowledge and experience with others to make their time in Iceland more enjoyable.
Use the Best 25-Yard Swim Lane Ropes and Lane Lines

Use the Best 25-Yard Swim Lane Ropes and Lane Lines

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Racing Swim Lanes
The right racing lanes make swimming easier.

Every competition pool needs lane ropes and lines to keep swimmers in their lane. Aside from keeping swimmers in their lanes, the best 25yard swim lane ropes and lane lines also contain various numbers of fins on the side of each individual disc that help calm the water, giving swimmers a smooth surface to perfect their swimming strokes and swimming times. There are a variety of choices when it comes to choosing the right lane ropes and lines for your pool. The two leaders in the industry are the AntiWave Forerunner and Competitor Racing Lane Line.

AntiWave   Forerunner Racing Lane Line

The AntiWave Forerunner 25-Yard Racing Line is a leader in the industry. The discs on the lane line measure 4.75 inches. This is a bit larger than the industry standard 4-inch disc, enabling them to successfully fight the waves by sending them down the swimming lane to stop the momentum and provide a smooth surface for your swimmers. They are available in a large variety of colors, as well as various patterns. As is industry standard, the first and last 15 meters must be an alternate color to alert backstroke swimmers of the wall that is coming up behind them. One of the largest benefits of investing in the AntiWave brand is its standard three-year warranty for its products, in addition to its popularity throughout the industry for durable, long lasting products.

Competitor 25-Meter Racing Lane Line

Another leader in the industry is the Competitor 25-Meter 4-Inch Racing Lane Line and the 6-Inch Racing Line. The Competitor brand has been popular in the swimming industry for the last 20 years, ranking at the top of coaches’ and swimmers’ lists of quality products. The 6-inch lane line was introduced at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. What sets the Competitor lines apart from the rest are the five fins that surround the center of the disc, allowing maximum dispersion of the waves for competitive swimmers. A vinyl coating that extends the longevity of the discs protects each disc. They are available in nine different colors, as well as various color combinations, in both the 4- and 6-inch varieties. As is the industry standard, the first and last 15-feet will be a solid color.

Choosing the Right Backstroke Swim Flags

Choosing the Right Backstroke Swim Flags

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Backstroke Flags
Customizing your backstroke flags gives your pool a professional appearance.

When you have swimmers who swim the backstroke in your pool, it is essential to have appropriate backstroke flags installed to prevent serious accidents. Some swimmers who regularly swim at your pool can tell how close to the wall they are by counting their strokes, but that can become tedious and it doesn’t help those who are unfamiliar with your pool. In order to keep everyone safe, it is important to find the right backstroke swim flags to hang up at your pool to ensure safety for everyone.

100-Foot Backstroke Flags

If you are looking for an affordable option to mark your pool with, the 100-Foot Backstroke Flags are perfect. Made from vinyl, they are available in a variety of colors, enabling you to coordinate them with your team’s colors. You can also choose multi colored flags that include five colors, alternating throughout the entire string. They easily tie onto sturdy poles and are perfectly spaced according to the standards of AAU and NCAA.

Custom Pennants

For true customization of the backstroke flags at your pool, there are Custom Backstroke Flags available. They are sold individually, allowing you to purchase as few as one or as many as you need for your pool. These quality flags are durable and long lasting. The custom pennants come without the rope, making it necessary to purchase the rope to string them according to regulation, which is typically one flag for every foot of space. You can order the custom flags in any quantity and color sequence that represents your school or team or purchase multiple colors.

Custom Lettering

To make your flags stand out even further, you can customize the lettering placed on them to further their authenticity. You can choose to spell out your team name, use lane numbers or any other letters/numbers that work well in conjunction with your pool to enlist team spirit and to give a professional look to the area.

Rope and Swivel Hooks

If you purchase custom pennants, you need quality rope, as well as swivel hooks, to professionally hang them so they meet the regulation requirements. The swivel hooks are easy to install and instantly give your pool a professional appearance. They also offer the ability to put your backstroke swim flags up quickly, as well as take them down and store them until the next time you need them.

Best Performing Racing Goggles

Best Performing Racing Goggles

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Best Racing Goggles
Having the right racing goggles can make or break your racing times.

As a swimmer, one of the most important aspects of your body that needs protection is your eyes. In order to properly protect them, you need to find the right racing goggles for your competitions and fitness workouts. Not only will they protect your eyes from the harmful effects of chlorine, such as itchiness or redness, they also help you perform better by providing clear vision while racing, eliminating the risk of becoming disoriented and slowing your times down.

Speedo Fastskin3 Super Elite Goggles

The Speedo Fastskin3 Super Elite Goggles are part of the first racing system developed by Speedo. They reduce the amount of drag you experience by 2.2 percent and a reduction in force of 63.4 percent compared to the Aquasocket goggle. Swimmers will experience the ultimate protection while diving, leaving the goggles in place and allowing for superior vision while racing. They offer incredible leak resistance thanks to the 3D seal around the goggles. The unique shape of the lens offers a larger range of vision to greatly improve your swimming.

Speedo Fastskin3 Elite Mirrored Goggles

One of the most important things to look for in your swim goggles is wide peripheral vision and hydrodynamic profile, which the Speedo Fastskin3 Elite Mirrored Goggles provide. They give swimmers a comfortable, leak-proof fit due to the 3D seal. The mirror lenses offer reduced glare and lower levels of brightness as well. These goggles are made to fit the face perfectly, eliminating the need for an uncomfortable level of tension high up on the head.

Speedo Speed Socket Polarized Goggles

Your eyes are just as important as your swimming strokes in competitive swimming. The Speedo
Socket Polarized Goggles are ideal for the swimmers who experience diminished swimming abilities due to the glare from the water. The polarized lenses offer light reflection to reduce the strain on your eyes. With a hard frame, watertight seal and slim profile, these goggles are comfortable and effective for swimmers of all levels.

Arena Cobra Mirrored Goggles

Swimmers around the world turn to the performance of the Arena Cobra Mirrored Goggles. The hydrodynamic form of these racing goggles offers a low profile, while allowing maximum benefits. The mirrored coating offers reflective properties that are necessary for clear vision in the water. They also include four t nose bridges to find the perfect fit for your face to allow for ultimate comfort in the water.

How to Find Long-Lasting Fitness Swimsuits

How to Find Long-Lasting Fitness Swimsuits

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Fitness Swimwear
Choosing long-lasting fitness swimwear keeps your costs down.

Competitive swimmers require long-lasting fitness swimsuits for a variety of reasons. The fit of the suit you wear for your competitive swimming has a major bearing on how you perform, not only in competitions but also in your workouts. You should consider the brand, material and desired function before choosing the right suit for your needs. If you choose a suit that is not long-lasting, you could find your buy them more often than you care to or find your swimming or fitness abilities suffer. There are a variety of fitness suits available that are long-lasting; understanding what to look for makes it possible to find the one that will not only fit right but also last for a long time.

Ocean Chloroban Poly Moderate Lap Suit

The line of Ocean fitness swimsuits are known for their longevity thanks to the Chloroban polyester material from which they are made. This polyester material is known for its chlorine resistance, which is the number one factor in fitness suits wearing out prematurely, especially when you wear them often. Another benefit of the Chloroban polyester is its ability to keep its shape in the long run, unlike suits that are made from nylon or spandex. The Ocean Chloroban Poly Moderate Lap Suit offers a snug fit for peak performance, tank style top and is fully lined, including a shelf bra for comfort. It is available in a wide variety of colors, including Purple, Grey and Blue Juno, Blue and Mag Chelsea and Blue and Purple Tracks.

Speedo Side Shirred Tank Endurance

The Speedo Side Shirred Tank Endurance is made from Speedo’s Endurance+ fabric, which offers longevity, style and compression in all the right areas of your body, offering everything that is needed in long-lasting fitness swimsuits. With its 100 percent resistance to chlorine, this suit will last at least 20 times longer than a suit made from nylon or spandex in terms of proper fit, as well as avoiding color fading. In addition to its resistance to chlorine damage, you will find this suit provides core compression in all the areas that matter to enable you to maximize your water aerobics or fitness workouts. The four-way stretch technology allows for the perfect fit for a long time, avoiding stretching in the wrong areas, making your suit less than optimal for your workouts. This suit is offered in Nautical Navy and Black.

Proper Swimsuit Care to Increase Longevity

Proper Swimsuit Care to Increase Longevity

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Competitive Swimwear Care
The proper care for competitive swimwear increases its longevity.

Competitive swimwear can be an expensive investment. Because you don’t want to have to purchase a new swimsuit every time you turn around, it is important to show your swimwear the right level of care to increase its longevity. Swimwear is subjected to a vast amount of chlorine, sweat, chloromine, bromine and other minerals that can be found in water. If you don’t safely remove these minerals and chemicals from your swimwear, you will find it wears out more quickly than it should, costing you even more money to replace it. Rinsing your suit with plain water helps, but you really need the right cleaning solvents for your suit.

Speedo Swim Suit Cleaner

Speedo is one of the companies that wants to make sure your swimsuit lasts as long as possible. Rinsing your swimsuit out with water and the Speedo Swim Suit Cleaner after your time in the pool will ensure as much of the chlorine as possible is removed from your swimsuit. This specific cleaner is also effective at removing any stains your swimsuit may have accrued over your time in the water and around the pool.

Malibu C Swimwear Crystals

Another great option for keeping your swimwear lasting longer is the Malibu C Swimwear Cleaner. The Malibu C company is well-known for creating the perfect cleaning agents for keeping swimwear and swimmers free of chlorine and the other chemicals and minerals present in the pool. With these crystals mixed with water, you will be able to rinse your swimwear clean of chlorine, sweat salts and the other minerals that are commonly present in pools to increase the longevity of the fabrics, including maintaining the colors and the elasticity of the fabrics. While the color isn’t important to your swimming abilities, the elasticity can be important to reduce resistance in the water and keep your suit fitting the way it should.

When you spend a lot of money on your competitive swimwear, you need to do everything you can to keep it in the best shape possible for as long as you can. While most people know the importance of not using your typical laundry detergent on your swimwear, you don’t have to settle for plain water to get your swimwear cleaner. With the right swimwear cleaners, you will be able to remove the chlorine, sweat and minerals from your swimsuit, keeping it in good shape for much longer.

Improve Your Swimming with the Right Hip Rotation Tools

Improve Your Swimming with the Right Hip Rotation Tools

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The right form as you move through the water is essential to your success. While most people think all you need to focus on is the movement of your arms and how your legs kick, every aspect of your body must be trained to perform the right movements to effectively propel yourself through the water. For instance, your hip rotation is an important part of your ability to swim well with all four swim strokes. Using the right tools can improve your hip rotation, as well as let you know how well you are doing in your training.

Finis Tech Toc

The Finis Tech Toc is an important tool you can use to determine whether your hip movements are perfectly timed and positioned based on the stroke you are working on. This tool is worn around the waist and creates an audible sound you can hear through the water that indicates your hip position and movement. On the side of the belt, you will find a tube that contains ball bearings and an acoustic amplifier to create the sound you hear. You can also set a delay for the ball bearings, which will encourage you to exaggerate your hip movements, allowing you to get a better feel for the proper movements for each stroke you are working on.

Finis Hydro Hip Rotation Belt

If you are having trouble with your hip movements or you need to strengthen the muscles in this area, the Finis Hydro Hip Rotation Belt can be the perfect addition to your swim training aids. This belt fits around your waist with two fins that stick out from the sides of your body. This creates greater resistance as you swim through the water. When you swim against the greater resistance, you will have to work harder to create the same propulsion you achieve without the belt. This in turn will help strengthen your hip muscles, allowing you to swim more efficiently without the belt.

Using the right swim training aids will ensure you are able to swim better during your practices and meets. The Finis Tech Toc can help you hear when your hip motions and positions are appropriate for the stroke you are practicing. The Finis Hydro Hip Rotation Belt can help you strengthen the muscles in the area for more effective swimming. With both of these tools, you will be able to improve your body’s movements, making you a stronger swimmer.

Choosing the Right Lifeguard Spineboard Equipment

Choosing the Right Lifeguard Spineboard Equipment

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Being a lifeguard means being prepared for any type of emergency. Whether you work at a pool or a beach at a lake or the ocean, it is important to have all the right equipment to deal with any emergency that may come your way. Some of the equipment that is necessary but can be easily overlooked include spineboards, backboards and head immobilizers, all of which are essential if someone is suspected to have a head, neck or spinal injury due to an accident in or around the water.

Spineboards/Backboards

One of the most important things you will need, whether there is a suspected head, neck or spine injury or the person is simply unconscious, is a spineboard or backboard. These flat boards allow you to easily transport a patient without causing further injury. While it is best to leave a person as you found him until paramedics can arrive, it is important to be able to move someone out of danger if it becomes necessary. In addition to having the right spineboards or backboards on hand to transport patients when needed, it is also important to make sure you have the right straps to secure someone to the board. When you have a board you use, you must inspect the straps on a regular basis and replace them when they wear out to keep everyone safe.

Head Immobilizers

When someone may have a head, neck or spine injury, the best thing you can do is make sure he doesn’t move. One way you can ensure the patient doesn’t move, especially if you have to move him on a spineboard, is to use a head immobilizer. This apparatus secures around the head and neck to keep the patients neck straight to avoid any further injury. Protecting the patient should be your number one priority. When paramedics finally arrive on the scene, they will be pleased to see you have taken the proper precautions to prevent a more serious injury.

Even if someone isn’t as injured as you first suspect, it is important to have the right lifeguard equipment to ensure his safety. This includes having a spineboard or backboard on which to safely transport a patient whenever necessary. In the case of a suspected head, neck or spine injury, having the right head immobilizers is also important to ensure the patient isn’t further injured by any movements that occur before the paramedics arrive.

The Best Men’s Racing Suits for 2013

The Best Men’s Racing Suits for 2013

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Racing Swimsuits for Men
The best racing swimsuits of 2013.

Unless you have the right racing swimsuit, you can actually hurt your performance in the water. If you thought all swimsuits were created equal, you may have been unknowingly holding yourself back. Why not make it your New Year’s resolution to get yourself into one of the best racing suits for 2013 this year so you can improve your performance in the water and place better in your races throughout the year. As you shop for your new racing swimsuit, consider  purchasing one of these two options that have proven themselves repeatedly to be one of the top racing swimsuits for men.

Arena Powerskin Carbon Pro Jammer

The Arena Powerskin Carbon Pro Jammer is one of the best racing suits for 2013 you can buy. Available in bright red, dark gray, bright green and royal blue, this technologically advanced suit is the first of its kind to make use of carbon fibers woven in the fabric to provide the right amount of compression in just the right places. However, the suit doesn’t provide compression that restricts movement; the compression it provides allows for free movement for better motion through the water. In addition, the Carbon Pro Jammer provides swimmers with additional support, efficiency and power in the water to improve performance.

Speedo LZR Elite Jammer

The second of the best racing suits for 2013 is the Speedo LZR Elite Jammer. This competitive swimsuit comes in black and is made from the record-breaking LZR Pulse fabric. This fabric is put together with bonded seams, allowing for smooth movement through the water with less resistance. Every swimmer knows resistance in the water is their worst enemy. In addition to being suitable for competitive swimming on the elite level, this swimsuit is approved by FINA for use on both the high school and collegiate levels, providing swimmers on all levels with the perfect suit.

If you are in the market for a new racing swimsuit in 2013, consider one of the suits names best for the upcoming year. Whether you are interested in the unique compression qualities of the Arena Powerskin Carbon Pro Jammer or you enjoy the bonded seams of the Speedo LZR Elite Jammer, you will find the perfect suit that will help you improve your performance in the water. While a competitive swimsuit can’t make you a better swimmer, choosing the wrong one can have a negative impact on your speed, making choosing one of the best your best option.

Finding the Right Women’s Plus Swimwear

Finding the Right Women’s Plus Swimwear

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Plus-Size Women's Swimwear
The right plus-size women’s swimsuits provide extra coverage and support.

When you have a few extra pounds, it can feel embarrassing to wear a swimsuit. However, swimming and water aerobics are often a great way to lose weight and achieve your goals of a healthier body. This can lead to a frustrating cycle. You don’t want to wear a swimsuit in the water, but you need the water to exercise safely and effectively. You can remedy this cycle by purchasing the right plus-size women’s swimwear to flatter your figure and help you hide problem areas.

Ocean Conservative Scoop Back

Solid colors are the perfect way to slim you down, especially when those colors are dark, such as navy blue and black. The Ocean Conservative Scoop Back comes in these colors, plus royal blue. In addition to the right colors, this plus-size women’s swimsuit offers a lower cut for the legs, helping to hide the upper part of your thighs, which can be a problem spot for many women. When you wear this suit to the pool, you will feel more confident in yourself.

Ocean Solid Aquatard

Another great option if you are embarrassed by the way traditional swimwear looks on you is the Ocean Solid Aquatard. This one piece plus-size swimsuit available in navy blue and black offers longer legs, reaching to the mid-thigh, providing you with greater coverage for your entire body. The water aerobics swimwear in plus-size is also cut high in the front and back along the top for even more coverage.

Speedo Vanquisher Moderate Ultraback Endurance+

If you are looking for Speedo women’s plus-size swimwear that is designed with water aerobics in mind, the Speedo Vanquisher Moderate Ultraback Endurance+ is the perfect option, available in navy blue and black. The crossed straps in the back provide you with the support your body needs through the aerobics process. While this suit doesn’t provide as much coverage as other options, it is a good suit for those who will work out in the water often due to its longevity and resistance to the chemicals in the water.

One of the best ways to lose weight and attain a healthier body is through water aerobics and swimming. This form of exercise is gentler on the body while still offering all the benefits of exercise. Whether you need to find a plus-size women’s swimsuit that offers extra coverage, better support or is simply designed for water aerobics, you will be able to find the perfect option to best meet your needs.

Aquatic Fitness Swimwear for Women

Aquatic Fitness Swimwear for Women

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For some women, swimming to get fit is the perfect option to allow them to achieve the level of fitness they desire with less stress on the body. Whether you are looking to swim as your form of exercise or you are signing up for water aerobics classes, you need to choose the right women’s fitness swimsuits to allow you to perform the activities well without hindering your movement in the water. When it comes to water aerobics swimsuits, you have several options from which to choose.

Conservative Suits

If you feel self-conscious about the way you look in a traditional swimsuit, you may want to consider women’s fitness swimsuits that provide a little extra coverage beyond the typical swimwear. These swimsuits offer more coverage in the thigh area so you don’t need to feel self-conscious about your body shape while you are in the water. You can find these suits in a variety of colors and designs so you can choose the one that best fits your style.

Moderate Suits

Another option in water aerobics swimsuits is the moderate suits. These swimsuits also provide a little extra coverage than the traditional swimsuit, though not as much as the conservative suits. Available in a variety of colors and designs, you are sure to find one that will appeal to your tastes. The moderate suit is perfect for swimming laps in the pool or partaking in a water aerobics class to help you get in shape.

Shirred Tank

For some women, the top is more of a problem area than the bottom. In these cases, a women’s fitness swimsuit, such as the shirred tank, can be the perfect option. In addition to providing additional coverage on the top, this swimsuit features shirring in the midsection of the suit, providing you with a slimmer look without actually doing the work. If you are participating in water fitness activities as a way to lose weight, this type of suit can be the perfect option for you.

No matter why you are participating in fitness swimming activities, finding the right women’s fitness swimsuit is essential. In addition to finding the colors and designs that best suit your style, you need to consider the type of fit. If you are trying to hide your problem areas while you work on them in the pool, you can choose from conservative, moderate or shirred tank suits to give you the coverage in just the right places.