Swimming in open water presents a number of unique challenges.

• open water
  • fear
    • deep water
    • no walls
    • no land close by
    • sensory deprivation
    • critters
  • beach starts/exits
    • mass starts
    • running starts
    • transition from run to swim
    • transition from swim to run
    • deep water starts
  • waves and wind
  • sunlight
  • tides and currents
  • navigation
    • sighting skills
    • sighting biomechanics
  • buoy turns
  • drafting

• Wetsuits: present a number of skills challenges
  • added buoyancy
  • better hydrodynamics
  • altered stroke mechanics
  • altered core activation
  • reduced feel for the water