Triathlon - Any tips on ocean swims?

im 14 and am going on vacation to florida with my parents, im doing a sprint tri and it will be an ocean water swim, any tips on how to do well.

im interested in some tips also, im use to swimming in lanes in a pool at my colleges pool.

Look into the channels of salt water between barrier islands and the mainland. Like the Indian river area in northern Florida. More boats ` fewer sharks.

Pay attention to any currents that go parallel to the beach. I got caught in one of those and it carried me 100m to the wrong side of the buoy. I spent way way way too much energy on the swim.

pay attention to the currents. pick a landmark and use it as a reference point. this will keep you from drifting off course.

In my time I did a few tris and some in open water. Pick up on some lit. regarding swiming style. You will need to change your style as you need to be aware of where are you heading by looking out... no more swiming pool lines...the salt water makes you float and in open water many times a bit heavier swimer will have the advantage due to bouyancy and water temperature, more insulation needed. There are diff googles, some that are a bit bigger as you need to see better...Be aware that there is a diff psyc in it... in a pool is easy to get the concept of distance...how far are u in the lap, hoe fast you are going, when is the wall coming up, (and pushing off which gives you a boost) In open water you dont have the taletells of a pool... so your psyc has to be modified a bit... Go out and practice in the ocean... you will be a bit disoriented at beginning... is hard to start feeling the speed you have, so is very important to keep pace...
Well there you go... it will be fun as you will have to learn a few things you thought you have mastered....
BTW, dont worry that much about sharks...i worry more about the ones that have two legs and you encounter in the street...
Best of luck and keep us posted...

man i worry about sharks now haha. i hear the best explanation for sharks attacking people practicing for tri's is they wear a wet suit that makes you appear like a seal. so does that mean if i wear like a bright yellow wet suit or some other bright color i would be less vulnerable to shark attack?? just wondering

wat about the swim start? i hear they are pretty rough, any tips on how to get out alive

Depends on the surf. You need to time it so you're not diving right into a breaker or it'll flip you right back on the beach.

how badly injured can u get injured in a start

I dunno. You could get paralyzed or killed, in theory. In practice, the worst that's likely to happen is you'll get bruised or swallow some sea water.

Rough swim start example:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r3S0wu4Zbfk

Rough swim start example:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r3S0wu4Zbfk

dang it you posted it before me, i love this commercial.

If the sun is on the same side as the buoys buy and wear a pair of silvered goggles. Ones such as these:

http://www.amazon.com/Speedo-GCG-Plus-Blue/dp/B00013PIDA/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1211076639&sr=8-9

It will be very hard to spot buoys with the sun right in your face, and since races start early in the morning the sun is low in the sky.

The other advice listed here is also good.

man i worry about sharks now haha. i hear the best explanation for sharks attacking people practicing for tri's is they wear a wet suit that makes you appear like a seal. so does that mean if i wear like a bright yellow wet suit or some other bright color i would be less vulnerable to shark attack?? just wondering

I'm scared like hell ever since that man died in Solana Beach during a tri practice swim from a great white. I guess I just don't have the balls anymore...

I'm scared like hell ever since that man died in Solana Beach during a tri practice swim from a great white. I guess I just don't have the balls anymore...

this is the exact reason i am scared now also, i live in Mira mesa which isnt very far from solana beach so yeah, i gotta admit i am afraid to go out on a ocean swim, btw ive never been far into the ocean for a swim, i usually train in the pool. do they even make bright colored wet suits for triathlons??? please say they do , i think it would make me more comfy in the ocean if i had a super bright colored suit heh.