Ratty Posted September 14, 2015 Share hoping you guys and girls can help. Myself and a few friends are doing Slanghoek in October and want to get some practice swimming in dams before then. We are finding that the moment we get into a dam, we are panicking a bit and struggling for breath so want to get over this. Any suggestions on where we can go that is not more than an hour from Cape Town? I believe Silvermine is still closed. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLACKvoodoo Posted September 14, 2015 Share PM sent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reteid Posted September 14, 2015 Share BLACKvoodoo, on 14 Sept 2015 - 09:27 AM, said:PM sentif the pm was to open water swim venues,please share with me as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reteid Posted September 14, 2015 Share phones silvermine last week still closed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amberdrake Posted September 14, 2015 Share There is a group swimming Gordens bay some Sunday mornings from spur to the harbor and back (1.8km). Depends on weather and availability in summer they swim Friday mornings sometimes as well. Wet suit is advised but not required. Unfortunately its informal and doesn't always take place. This is a sea swim. Edited September 14, 2015 by Amberdrake Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nolipoli Posted September 14, 2015 Share Come In - The waters lovely! velomonatiCT 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket-Boy Posted September 14, 2015 Share hoping you guys and girls can help. Myself and a few friends are doing Slanghoek in October and want to get some practice swimming in dams before then. We are finding that the moment we get into a dam, we are panicking a bit and struggling for breath so want to get over this. Any suggestions on where we can go that is not more than an hour from Cape Town? I believe Silvermine is still closed. ThanksIm going to suggest that if you are uncomfortable swimming in a dam at the moment then avoid sea swims until you are at home in a dam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty Posted September 14, 2015 Share Im going to suggest that if you are uncomfortable swimming in a dam at the moment then avoid sea swims until you are at home in a dam. I am actually better in the sea than dams. Used to do nippers as a kid and surfed for quite a few years. Its the dark brown water that freaks me out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty Posted September 14, 2015 Share There is a group swimming Gordens bay some Sunday mornings from spur to the harbor and back (1.8km). Depends on weather and availability in summer they swim Friday mornings sometimes as well. Wet suit is advised but not required. Unfortunately its informal and doesn't always take place. This is a sea swim. Thanks, but at this point 1.8km would be pushing it a bit especially for my friends. I only started swimming again last year after 10 years off due to a shoulder injury so working my way up. Next race (Slanghoek) is only 650m's so its a nice comfortable distance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbdcaffie Posted September 14, 2015 Share You guys are cray cray. If you stop swimming, you sink - it's just not meant to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disylizzy Posted September 14, 2015 Share There's also First Sundays of the Month Swims at Clifton https://www.facebook.com/1SOMS ATC host swims in the canal in the Waterfront once a week - you can join their swimming club for R220 per annum (might be slightly off) Just a tip, if you freak out about the brown water, look forward, don't look down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jewbacca Posted September 14, 2015 Share I find that consciously regulating your breathing as you enter the water makes a huge difference, especially when the water is cold. The 'freak out' is irrational so if you slow everything down and think about your form and your breathing everything sort of washes over you and you will settle down whatever water you find yourself in. Maybe practice entering the water a few times to get over the initial fear... Realistically there are far less things to be scared of in a dam than in the sea. Maybe some leaches inbetween your toes or a swimming snake that can't bike you anyway, but those don't really have any sort of real life comparison to giant 4m long great white man eaters.... Enjoy the time in the water............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocket-Boy Posted September 14, 2015 Share Dams are awesome for swimming, I comfortable in the sea too but the lack of swell in a dam just makes it a little easier to get into a comfortable rhythm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velomonatiCT Posted September 14, 2015 Share I find that consciously regulating your breathing as you enter the water makes a huge difference, especially when the water is cold. The 'freak out' is irrational so if you slow everything down and think about your form and your breathing everything sort of washes over you and you will settle down whatever water you find yourself in. Maybe practice entering the water a few times to get over the initial fear... Realistically there are far less things to be scared of in a dam than in the sea. Maybe some leaches inbetween your toes or a swimming snake that can't bike you anyway, but those don't really have any sort of real life comparison to giant 4m long great white man eaters.... Enjoy the time in the water............ "everything sort of washes over you" :eek: that's the part that worries me Edited September 14, 2015 by velomonatiCT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Zone Posted September 14, 2015 Share Silvermine is closed until December, there are a few dams at the top of Red Hill that are swimable, swimming used to be banned there but I understand that the position has softened somewhat. Berg river dam could also be an option Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratty Posted September 15, 2015 Share I find that consciously regulating your breathing as you enter the water makes a huge difference, especially when the water is cold. The 'freak out' is irrational so if you slow everything down and think about your form and your breathing everything sort of washes over you and you will settle down whatever water you find yourself in. Maybe practice entering the water a few times to get over the initial fear... Realistically there are far less things to be scared of in a dam than in the sea. Maybe some leaches inbetween your toes or a swimming snake that can't bike you anyway, but those don't really have any sort of real life comparison to giant 4m long great white man eaters.... Enjoy the time in the water............ You are not helping... When I was on a school camp, I got bitten by a fish in a dam (it was quite sore). Ever since then I've have a fear of the fishes in the dams. I know its irrational, but still freaks me out. When I walk into the dam, the moment its deep enough I tread water rather than stand. On a serious note, thanks for the advice, appreciate it. I reckon after a few more swims in a dam, I'll be ok. My friend might take a little longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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