Team Wisconsin Open Water Meet
Welcome to the 2022 Wisconsin Open Water Zone Team,
I am excited to welcome you to the Wisconsin Open Water Zone team. I am honored to return as the Head Coach for Wisconsin’s Open Water Zone team along with the outstanding coaching team of Ziggy Cornegan, Carissa Donkersgoed and Connor Andrews. Coach Angela Monty is the Team Manager and is credited to bringing this meet together. We are proud to represent our Great State and to have the privilege to coach Wisconsin’s finest.
If you are a veteran or new to open water racing please review the information below.
TIMES AND DATES:
ZONE OPEN WATER CLINIC – June 16th @ 3pm
Clinic Information: All Athletes registered for Team Wisconsin will be registered for the clinic. This is a great introduction to Open Water Swimming, and will cover: buoy turns, pack swimming, starts, positioning, and race strategy. The swimmers will be swimming in both the pool as well as the lake for the clinic. After clinic concludes – athlete registration, nail check, body marking available. It is recommended for athletes to check-in at the clinic on Thursday.
RACE DAY - Friday, June 17th
Friday, June 17th Open Water Schedule for 5K & 3K Competitors:
6:00 – 7:00 AM: Officials Meeting
7:00 – 7:15 AM: Mandatory Coaches Meeting
6:45 AM: Registration & Check‐In For 5K & 3K (if not done night before)
7:30 – 8:00 AM: Course Open for Warm‐Up
8:00 – 8:15 AM: Participant Clinic/Pre-Race Meeting - MANDATORY
8:30 AM: First wave of 5K Begins 10:15 AM
Estimated Start for 3K Open Water Schedule for Swimmers Ages, 11-12, 10&Un
9:00 AM: Registration & Check‐In for 1K & 2K (if not done already)
9:45 – 10:15 AM: Warm‐Up in roped-in swim area
10:30– 10:45 AM: Participant Clinic/Pre-Race Meeting - MANDATORY
11:00 AM: approximate first wave start times for 11-12 2K
11:45 AM: approximate first wave of 10&Un 1K Begins
WISCONSIN ZONE TEAM AREA
Zone swimmers and families, this year we will have a Wisconsin Team Area where all the families and swimmers can sit and socialize before, during and after the race. It will be a rally point for the age groups before they race, our TEAM PICTURE meeting point and the area to meet your coaches and get any needed help, questions answered and anything before and after your races.
NEEDED ITEMS
- If you have a pop up canopies, Wisconsin or Packer Flags or shelters please bring them. I would like to stake our team area to the right side of the pavilion so we all sit together between the starting and finishing line. Parents are encouraged to wear RED shirts so we can look unified and Wisconsin Proud.
- PHOTOGRAPHER – If you would like to donate your photography skills and take a few team pictures please contact me.
- SWIMMER WEAR- Please note that most of us have a plethora of swim gear with your own team’s logo on it. When registered each swimmer will receive a Team Wisconsin shirt and that is the expected wear (weather permitting) for the Zone Meet. While we all are proud of each of our individual teams this meet we represent TEAM WISCONSIN and I ask that each athlete displays their Team Wisconsin shirt proudly. If we have inclement weather or it is cold please wear any parka or warm ups to keep warm.
TIPS AND TRICKS
RELAX AND SWIM ON – During the race it could get crowded and contact and bumping will happen. You’ll generally have two options: stay completely out of the way of other people or learn to deal with it and turn it into a performance advantage. You will be starting in deep water, Get your body horizontal and kick your legs gently but make sure you scull with your palms facing forwards to prevent a false start. When the hooter goes, kick hard and start swimming to give yourself a boost off the line.
PRACTICE SIGHTING – The best way to sight is lift your head forward and look forward as you turn your head to breath. You want to limit how high you lift your head because your hips will drop, so try just below the goggle line. If you keep your head down to long you risk swimming of course and adding more distance to your race, if you sight too much you can slow your pace.
LEARN THE COURSE – When you get to Lake Andrea Beach check the course, where the buoys are, landmarks like trees and buildings to sight on to keep you straight when you swim.
BREATHING - It is best to breathe to the opposite side when someone is next to you. If not, you might get hit in the face, and/or lose your goggles.
EATING/HYDRATING - Take care of your body. It is easy to get dehydrated out in the open water. Drink plenty of fluids two days out, but don't get bloated.
SUNSCREEN – Do not put on sunscreen before body marking, the sunscreen will cause the body markings to not stick and you will not be able to compete if that happens.
LINK TO MEET INFORMATION AND TIMELINES
https://www.teamunify.com/wikbst/UserFiles/Image/QuickUpload/22-cz-ow-timeline_043382.pdf
That is it for now, the coaching staff if looking forward to meeting and working with you all. Hopefully we will see you at the Open Water Clinic June 16th, all Team Wisconsin Athletes have been registered for the clinic so we look forward to seeing you there.
Best regards,
Your Open Water Zone Coaching Staff
