Can you swim?

[JamesIII]

I had lessons when I was 3-5, our family had a houseboat from my birth until I was around 15, and we got a pool when I was around 9...so I lived in the water during the summers.

I'm probably not the best technical swimmer, but I have great endurance and at one point I worked up to where I could hold my breath underwater for about 3 and a half minutes. I was lucky enough to pass the MCIWS training, which was some of the hardest training I had to do in the military.

 

[starchief]

I can't float at all if not moving. I have a daughter who can't sink even if she tries (what is the explanation for not being able to sink?)

 

[BlueRaider22]

5 minute prone float.....Dead Sea.....

5 minute prone float would certainly achieve a Dead Sea.....how in the world do you do that?

 

[TortElvisII]

That's funny it swam away too, glad that it did. Always heard that most snakes are afraid of people as you are of them. I never tested that theory though. The one that gets me is the water moccasin, seen two of them fighting in San Antonio in a creek that ran though downtown, thought that was odd for the city. My Grandpa used to shoot them if they were around when we fished. I was at Barkley in May fishing off a bridge, great catfish spot and a wooded area on the other side, good fishing spot on that side too but was where I encountered the water snakes with the bands. Oddly enough the side with snakes, I caught more on. Think I saw snakes about 8-10 times that day. All but one was the water snake with the bands. Can't remember what the other one looked liked. Barkley has been the place where I've had my most experiences with snakes.

This is the diamondback water snake. Probably the largest bodied snake in KY other than Timber Rattlers.

It is often mistaken for a cottonmouth. I saw one in Barkley that I thought was a hose.

 

[BlueRaider22]

I can't float at all if not moving. I have a daughter who can't sink even if she tries (what is the explanation for not being able to sink?)

If you keep enough air in your lungs you will not sink....now you may not be the prettiest floater but you will not sink. You probably don't maintain enough air and your daughter doesn't let enough out. The vast, vast majority of people who claim they can't float sink due to two mani reasons: improper breathing and impatience/panic.

 

[allabouttheUK]

If you keep enough air in your lungs you will not sink....now you may not be the prettiest floater but you will not sink. You probably don't maintain enough air and your daughter doesn't let enough out. The vast, vast majority of people who claim they can't float sink due to two mani reasons: improper breathing and impatience/panic.

I can verify that statement. I get extremely impatient, and that lead to the panic. It doesn't help that I am a pretty tense person to begin with. I have a very hard time relaxing no matter what the situation.

@GhostVol your story reminded me of my swim qual for the Navy in boot camp. I could do everything but thread water. When I went through it was the 20ft platform "step off", swim to the side, tread for 2 min, the out to the middle, another 2 min tread, then the other side, and then back under the platform.
Well I got to the first station, and lasted about 15 seconds and that got me a one way ticket to remedial swim class. So I couldn't tread water so they made me do two lapse in the pool to get my swim qual....never made any sense to me.

 

[WettCat]

Was windsurfing at a fairly remote dock on Kentucky Lake many years ago, dropped the sail and board on a rocky beach to grab a drink. When I returned, a snake took off from under my sail...looked around and seemed like there were snakes everywhere. Grabbed my board and was out of there in a flash.

Never sailed in a remote spot again--always with people around.

 

[Strokin_Bandit]

My mother put me through swimming lessons before I was a year old. How? The instructors at the Y said, "toss 'em in." Apparently infants can instinctually float/swim. Since it was the 70's and parents weren't scared of every single possible calamity, my mom threw me in. I floated. I've never been scared of water in my life and can't remember a time where I couldn't swim. (At least that's the story she told. My granny was extremely upset with her about this.)

It was always a sport I wish I had a chance to experience. I was tall and thin and could flat get it in the freestyle, but I was raised in a rural area with no swim teams. What could have been!

 

[BKH34]

Yes, I can swim. Now it doesn't look good. Matter of fact, it looks like I'm drowning when I'm actually swimming. But if you ever encounter me in a pool, please know that I am in complete control.

Pools are awesome. Underrated pool thing: I can walk in them.

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

When I surfed regularly I could pretty much swim indefinitely, I can't think of anything that will get you in better shape than ocean swimming, it's a completely different animal. Only place I wouldn't get out was near Carmel. That riptide scared me shitless, even when I was in the best shape of my life.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I worked up to swimming 1600m, but never could do a flip turn. I did learn how to breath on both sides. I was slow as molasses in January doing it too. An average hs swimmer would have done the same distance in half the time. Good work out though.

I passed the swim portion of my scuba certification by swimming on my back. I don't recall the distance, just that there was no time limit, use any stroke, don't touch the sides of the pool. Resting backstroke then.

Flip turns are a real pain in the ***. I pretty much swallow water half the time I do it. Hard to get the timing and tuck right. But man, they conserve so much energy once you can nail em.

I can breath on both sides, either switching sides each lap with a 2-stroke breathing technique, or just a 3-stroke the whole way. I do get a little tired on the 3-stroke after a while, as it's 50% more time between breaths, so I drop down to the 2-stroke after a while.

Need to continue my form, looking back on my inhale and not to the sides. Crazy how much proper form goes into swimming. I'd guess a hell of a lot more than running.

 

[Kaizer Sosay]

Swim stories? I got a swim story for you…

Several years ago I was surf skiing off the coast of Hawaii on the 4th of July by myself…when a speed boat zoomed past me and knocked me off and into the ocean. The surf ski floated away…so i treaded water…for hours…and hours. It wasn't too bad at first though…as it gave me time to reflect on my life. I had flashbacks about my time at war in Vietnam, my wedding, and my childhood time spent with my father who died in the Korean war. But then things got fuzzy when fatigue set in...

Luckily, my friends TC, Rick, and Higgins came through for me. They knew i liked to spend the 4th of July in solidarity every year. But somehow…some way...they collectively felt a sense of dread…a cosmic connection between friends that spurred them on the hunt to find me. And find me they did.

I dunno, it's just kind of a comforting knowing a supernatural alarm goes off in your friends when you're in danger.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Heading to the pool for laps in a bit actually. Monday's are my "Executive Workout" days: Laps, some walking laps, and then relaxing in the hot tub and sauna... maybe a hydro-massage at the end.

Pretty sore from Basketball and lifting back yesterday. No chance I make it to 1600m, probably just 1000m to get a workout in. Might work on the flip, though.. still 90% chance I come back here in 2 hours without any progress on it, though hahah.

 

[TortElvisII]

If you can't swim, go get in the lake and have a snake come up. Brother you will learn.

Seriously, just put on ski jacket and get in.

 

[cawoodsct]

swimmingly

 

[joeyrupption]

I took my son through swimming lessons at 6-months. It was fun, but also pretty intense to be holding your first-born in a vat of potential death for an hour every Saturday morning. Talk about being "focused" at the ol' lap pool.

He loves my parent's pool now, but is almost "too relaxed" in his little float-boat. He leans back in it and kicks he feet up to float below the mesh part in the middle.

We're going to take him for another round of the same lessons in the fall.

 

[Ron Mehico]

I guess you can call what I do swimming. I look like I'm drowning and my calves are always extremely sore when I'm done. Definitely not a water person.

 

[Deeeefense]

Swimming isn't the issue for me it's floating. My bone density is extremely high which means unlike most people my body weight is denser then the water it displaces. I can't tread water or float but with effort I can use a downward stroke to stay above water for short periods of time.

 

[AFKY_Blue_RedsBengals]

This is the diamondback water snake. Probably the largest bodied snake in KY other than Timber Rattlers.

It is often mistaken for a cottonmouth. I saw one in Barkley that I thought was a hose.

I looked up snakes in Barkley, think I might have seen the video you mentioned earlier where the timber rattler standing up in water in Ky. I believe that's what the other snake I saw was doing. that day. Came across a forum where people were talking about how many snakes they came across at Barkley like no other place they ever been. Completely agree with you about jumping in to swim and a snake come up in the water. You'll get an adrenaline rush and do things you didn't think were possible haha

 

[KentuckyStout]

Used to swim year-round at the old Plantation Country Club off Westport Road. First jump off a 32' Olympic platform was at 7 years old. In the winter-time they had a huge metal building on tracks that they would roll over one of the pools and keep it heated through the winter.

Sad to say it's all gone now.

 

[GhostVol]

If you keep enough air in your lungs you will not sink....now you may not be the prettiest floater but you will not sink. You probably don't maintain enough air and your daughter doesn't let enough out. The vast, vast majority of people who claim they can't float sink due to two mani reasons: improper breathing and impatience/panic.

Senior Chief Robinson and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Wilson tried to get me to float for SEVEN weeks. They tried everything short of inflating me like Katanga in Live And Let Die to get me to prone float. Since Company 191 was due to graduate in week 8...they said "eff it. Put in the waiver".

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Only got to do like 400m today, and it was in double-up'ed lanes, which blows.. 3-lap pool with one entire lane for kids splashing around. I get that the gym has a summer camp going on, but why put them in a small-sized pool as is, during lunch hours? Take them outside.

Went with the old man, who swims with a snorkel, so that was good for some laughs. Being 65+ really does mean not giving a crap, huh?

 

[UKGrad93]

Only got to do like 400m today, and it was in double-up'ed lanes, which blows.. 3-lap pool with one entire lane for kids splashing around. I get that the gym has a summer camp going on, but why put them in a small-sized pool as is, during lunch hours? Take them outside.

Went with the old man, who swims with a snorkel, so that was good for some laughs. Being 65+ really does mean not giving a crap, huh?

I've seen guys swimming with a snorkel before. Seems like it would be easier. I've seen a lot of old people that are good at lap swimming. Slow, but they can go forever.

There's an old guy where I lap swim, he's slow now, but in his day, I think he set some Div 1 school records. Amazing how physical performance declines over time.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Yeah, come to think of it I have seen snorkels before. Started looking into 25/50/100m times. I can swim the 25m in 20 seconds (probably a few under if I really sprinted) but that's using a good deal of effort. I'm more like 25 seconds, or 30 if I'm slowing down. Seems like that's pretty standard. I'd really like to get the flip/push down well because that should shave off a few seconds on my 50/100. As of now, I come to a stop, take a breath and start again.. which means my 100m would be awfully slow compared to my 25.

And then just keep working on my endurance.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Senior Chief Robinson and Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Wilson tried to get me to float for SEVEN weeks. They tried everything short of inflating me like Katanga in Live And Let Die to get me to prone float. Since Company 191 was due to graduate in week 8...they said "eff it. Put in the waiver".

There is a very, very small population of people who can't float enough to keep their face out of the water.....smething like less than 2% of the population. Mostly these are genetic abnormalities like small lungs, etc.

Now there are varying degrees of "floating". Some people can float nearly half their body out of water.....legs, toes, etc. Some have to arch their back and neck like crazy and just barely keep their nose out.....if they are in anything but still water and they may inhale water.

 

[Ron Mehico]

Mostly these are genetic abnormalities like small lungs, etc.

Whoa. GhostVol you going to let him talk about your lungs like that?

 

[wildcatadam6]

I can't float at all if not moving. I have a daughter who can't sink even if she tries (what is the explanation for not being able to sink?)

Archimedes Principle

 

[WettCat]

LineSki--you keep using meters but it sounds like you are swimming in what's considered a short course pool. Typically those are 25 yards, not meters. Long course is typically 50 meters. Which is why you will often see a competitive pool that is 50 meters long but 25 yards wide---so they can host both Short Course and Long Course meets.

And a flip turn shouldn't be that hard to master. Ask one of the lifeguards or coaches to spend a little time with you---it will make a big difference.

 

[cricket3]

This is the method I used to teach flip turns to kids. Might be worth grabbing a pool noodle and trying it out.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

LineSki--you keep using meters but it sounds like you are swimming in what's considered a short course pool. Typically those are 25 yards, not meters. Long course is typically 50 meters. Which is why you will often see a competitive pool that is 50 meters long but 25 yards wide---so they can host both Short Course and Long Course meets.

And a flip turn shouldn't be that hard to master. Ask one of the lifeguards or coaches to spend a little time with you---it will make a big difference.

TBH, I'm not even sure what the pool is. Not a single worker knows the distance. I imagine they want to keep it in Olympic variation and based on eyeballing it, looks like something around 25 meter, or yard.

The problem is, it's just a health club pool. They put a worker in the pool area to keep and eye on things, but I heard they aren't "true" lifeguards. I do see some members actually giving 1-on-1 swim lessons, so maybe I'll inquire.

I have the mechanics of the flip down, just not the timing. That part still gets me.. I'm either too early and miss the wall, or my feet land on the edge lol.

 

[.S&C.]

We-Todd_did is 1 of 3 that voted can't swim [laughing]

Way to play into the stereotype....

 

[cricket3]

I have the mechanics of the flip down, just not the timing. That part still gets me.. I'm either too early and miss the wall, or my feet land on the edge lol.

That's easy, use the t at the end of the lane and flip at the same spot every time.

 

[.S&C.]

Swimming isn't the issue for me it's floating. My bone density is extremely high which means unlike most people my body weight is denser then the water it displaces. I can't tread water or float but with effort I can use a downward stroke to stay above water for short periods of time.

really? That's wild.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Should the T be directly under my face when I start? Should my vision (assuming you look directly down as you should) just clear the top of the T? I know that it's used to gauge when to flip, but am never sure when exactly.

I think I instinctively start the flip early to avoid bashing my feet on the wall. Might need to tuck better and keep it tighter to avoid that.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Whoa. GhostVol you going to let him talk about your lungs like that?

Lol. Yeah, sorry Ghost. It came across wrong.

 

[LadyCat92]

I can scuba dive all day. Put me on the surface and it's a struggle. When I was rehabbing my knee, my surgeon made me lap swim. I'm certain the bored little.life guard at the Y was convene might actually get to use his training.

 

[cricket3]

It all depends on your flip turn as to when you flip. Find your sweep spot, mark the spot on the t in you mind, and practice hitting it on that spot to where muscle memory takes over.

 

[Teachable Moe]

I can swim as well as I can sing. Our daughter swam before she could walk. Our son had 3 years of lessons. Neither can swim now more than a length of a pool. Swimming isn't a huge skill to maintain if you never go near the water.

 

[Nubb16]

I'm a damn good swimmer. I never had a pool but my grandfather lives next door and always has and my uncle does as well. I have swam at least 50% of this summer. I don't like swimming in lakes as much but I will. Swimming in a river is kind of dumb. Even the best swimmer can drown in a river.

 

[neilborders]

I can't imagine how bad my childhood summers would have sucked if I couldn't swim.