We've updated our policy regarding how we treat and protect data that is collected and used from our websites. This site also uses cookies which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the policy. By using this site you agree to our use of cookies. Please read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy anytime for more information and your related choices.

triathlete logo
Search Triathlete
triathlete logo
  • Gear & Tech
    • 2018 Buyer’s Guide
    • Swim
    • Bike
    • Run
    • Kestrel 5000 SL SRAM Red eTap

    • Garmin Forerunner 935

    • 2XU P:2 Propel

    • Saucony Liberty ISO

    • Giro Vanquish MIPS

    • How to Put Your Triathlon Wetsuit on Like a Pro

    • Reviewed: 10 Wetsuits for Triathletes

    • Your Smartwatch Is Getting Smarter

    • Suit Up! 9 Wetsuit Reviews

    • A Look At Finis’ New Edge Fins

    • 5 Steps to Ensuring Your Bike Is Race-Ready After Travel

    • 14 Triathlon Bikes Reviewed

    • Oakley Flight Jacket Fights Fog with Flip of a Switch

    • Augmented Reality: The Future of Triathlon Training?

    • The Lube You Use Can Make You (Marginally) Faster

    • 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide: Running Shoes

    • What to Do When Your Running Shoe Is Discontinued

    • Find The Perfect Pair of Running Socks (For You)

    • Why Do Some Running Shoes Cost So Much More Than Others?

    • Our First Impressions of Zwift’s Run Platform

  • Training
    • Swim
    • Bike
    • Run
    • Injury Prevention
    • One-Hour Workout: Open-Water Bulletproofing

    • Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

    • Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

    • Six Steps To A Better Streamline

    • Quick Set: 2, 4, 6, 8

    • One-Hour Workout: Wildflower Windups

    • One-Hour Workout: Weight-Room-On-Wheels Bike Set

    • One-Hour Workout: Brick-Build Bike/Run Quad-Burner

    • One Hour Workout: 2-Prong Power

    • One-Hour Workout: Colt 45 Bike Intervals

    • Are You Reaping the Benefits of the Fartlek?

    • The Myth of the Ideal Running Cadence

    • One-Hour Workout: Criss-Cross Run

    • Hide and Train: Use This Unique Trend to Spice Up Your Workouts

    • Most Runners Overstride—Here’s How to Stop It

    • 3 Unique Recovery Techniques From Around the World

    • Monday Minute: Increase Hip Flexor Strength

    • Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

    • Improve Your Posture with This One-Minute Exercise

    • A Doctor Solves the Bum Problem You’re Afraid to Google

  • Nutrition
    • Race Day & Training
    • Recipes
    • Weight Loss
    • Can the Keto Diet Work for Endurance Athletes?

    • How Hydrating Properly Is Key For Optimal Recovery

    • Should You Ditch Sports Nutrition Products for Real Food?

    • What’s the Best Way to Approach Nutrition on Long Bike Rides?

    • Nutrition Case Study: The Swollen Ironman

    • 10 Ways To Use Protein-Packed Greek Yogurt

    • Make Your Portable PB&J Healthier With This Salad Twist

    • Real Food For The Road: Crispy Rice Omelet

    • It’s Spring! 4 Gardening Tips For Triathletes

    • Simple Chef: 3 Tasty Recipes Centered Around 5 Ingredients

    • Is Intermittent Fasting a Good Idea for Athletes?

    • 3 Healthy Ways to Battle the Nighttime Sweet Tooth

    • Should I Stop Eating After 6 P.M. As Part Of My Diet Plan?

    • Are You Eating Enough?

    • 5 Steps to Reaching Your 2018 Nutrition Goals

  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Races
    • Travel
    • Beginner’s Luck: The Secret of Doing a First Triathlon

    • A Brief Complaint From a Salty Triathlete: Stop Hating on Pros

    • ProFile: Meet XTERRA World Champ Bradley Weiss

    • How This Estee Lauder Exec Fits in Triathlon Training

    • A Brief Complaint from a Salty Triathlete: Stop Rolling Starts!

    • Ben Hoffman On the Sheer Relief of Surviving Cape Epic

    • 9 of the Most Popular Races in Triathlon

    • Need a Race-Cation, Pronto? Head to Bermuda

    • 5 Must-Watch Pro Races of 2018

    • A World Inside: A Look at the Big Shift in How We’re Racing and Training

    • 5 Steps to Ensuring Your Bike Is Race-Ready After Travel

    • Need a Race-Cation, Pronto? Head to Bermuda

    • What to Do If You Are Injured at a Race Abroad

    • Dear Coach: How Do I Deal with Time Zone Changes?

    • Triathlon Tour Guide: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

  • News
    • Triathlon
    • Gear
    • Ironman
    • Photos: 2018 Surf City Escape Triathlon

    • The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

    • The 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide Is Available Online

    • Tim Don Crushes Boston 6 Months After Kona Crash

    • Enter Triathlete Magazine’s First Ever Photo Contest!

    • The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

    • The 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide Is Available Online

    • A Ventum for the Masses?

    • Win the Bike from the Cover of Our Buyer’s Guide!

    • Get the 2018 Triathlete Buyer’s Guide!

    • Photos: Jan Frodeno, Anne Haug on Top at 70.3 Oceanside

    • Wanda Considers IPO for Triathlon, Cycling Holdings

    • Ironman Overhauls Pro Qualification System (Again)

    • Van Collides with Pro Matt Russell at Ironman World Championship

    • Daniela Ryf Earns Third-Straight Ironman World Title

  • Subscribe

    Subscribe to Triathlete Magazine

    • The hottest gear and tech
    • Expert training, gear and nutrition advice
    • The latest on the people, places, ideas, and issues that define the multisport lifestyle

     

     

    VIEW PACKAGES

    Sign up for the Free Email Newsletter

    • Everything triathlon delivered directly to your inbox
    • Editors’ top story picks
    • Exclusive offers from our sponsors available only to newsletter subscribers


  • Follow Us on Twitter
  • Like Us on facebook
  • Follow Us on Instagram
  • Search Triathlete
  • Triathlete.com
  • Swim

9 Secrets To Proper Open-Water Sighting

Swim By Sara McLartyPosted On: Nov 2, 2017

Photo: www.shutterstock.com

Triathletes spend hours in the pool practicing perfect stroke technique, but on race day, following buoys and staying on course is equally important. Sighting is a skill that needs to be practiced and perfected before race day. Follow these tips for your next open-water swim.

1. Lift your head only as high as necessary. In calm bodies of water, like a lake or river, lift just your eyes out of the water.

2. In wavy ocean conditions, time it so you’re sighting on the top of a wave for the best view of the course. Feel your body rise and fall on the swells and sight accordingly.

3. When conditions are choppy and unpredictable, lift your head extra high but try to minimize the total number of times you sight. Use landmarks and other swimmers when breathing to the side.

4. Do not breathe while looking forward. Separate the two actions by sighting forward and then immediately rolling your head to take a breath to the side.

5. As you prepare to sight, press down with your hand and arm during the catch phase of your stroke. This will slightly lift your upper body and make it easier to raise your head.

6. Arch your back while lifting your head. This will allow your legs and feet to stay near the surface, minimizing drag under the water.

7. Kick extra hard for a moment while you are sighting. This will help maintain forward speed and also keep your feet from dropping.

8. Sight 2–3 times in a row (during every other stroke). Use the first sight to locate the buoy, the second sight to adjust your angle and the third to verify your direction. Swim straight for 20–30 seconds before repeating this system.

9. Practice, practice, practice! Make a point to practice sighting drills in every second or third workout.

RELATED: Ask Coach Sara: Fear Of Being Trampled

Sighting Drills For The Pool

Tarzan
Swim the entire length of the pool with your head out of the water. Use this drill to practice arching your back, kicking extra hard and maintaining a good body position.

Where’s Waldo?
Use good sighting technique to locate your coach on the pool deck while swimming a single lap.

3 Right/3 Left/6 Regular
Sight three times while taking a stroke with the right arm and then three times with the left. Take six regular strokes and then repeat.

Swim Blind
Find an empty lane at the pool and swim straight down the middle with your eyes closed. Based on which lane line you bump most often, you know which direction to compensate for in open water.

RELATED: Video: How To Sight In A Triathlon Swim

Follow Triathlete on Twitter @Triathletemag for inspiration, new workout ideas, gear reviews from our editors and more.

Related Articles

5 Spring Trail Running Tips

Training By Andrew SimmonsApr 25, 2018

One-Hour Workout: Open-Water Bulletproofing

Training By Chris FosterApr 24, 2018

3 Unique Recovery Techniques From Around the World

Training By Sarah BarkerApr 24, 2018

Monday Minute: Increase Hip Flexor Strength

Injury Prevention By Triathlete.comApr 23, 2018

  • MOST READ
  • LATEST
  • TRAINING

Why Do My Toes Go Numb When I Ride?

Casey Maguire Training

Lessons From This Year’s Surprise Boston Marathon Winner

Chris Foster Training

Super Simple Ironman 70.3 Triathlon Training Plan

Triathlete.com Training

The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

Triathlete.com News

Chest Strap or Wrist-Based Heart Rate Monitors: Which Is Better?

Susan Lacke Gear & Tech

Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

Erin Taylor Training

Monday Minute: Increase Hip Flexor Strength

Triathlete.com Injury Prevention

How to Eliminate Neck and Back Pain in the Aero Position

Dr. Abigail Smith Training

How Strong Is Your Swim Kick?

Sara McLarty Swim

8-Week Sprint Triathlon Training Plan For Beginners

Lance Watson Training

The New Way To Fight Knee Pain? Don’t Move

Susan Lacke Training

Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

Erin Beresini Swim

Photos: 2018 Surf City Escape Triathlon

Triathlete.com Photos

A Brief Complaint From a Salty Triathlete: Stop Hating on Pros

Kelly O'Mara Lifestyle

The Four Functions Of Your Swim Kick

Gary Hall Sr. Swim

6 Plyometric Exercises For Triathletes

Mackenzie Lobby Run

Tim Don Crushes Boston 6 Months After Kona Crash

Triathlete.com News

Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

Sara McLarty Training

Can the Keto Diet Work for Endurance Athletes?

Marni Sumbal Nutrition

How This Estee Lauder Exec Fits in Triathlon Training

Sarah Barker Lifestyle

5 Spring Trail Running Tips

Apr 25, 2018 Training

One-Hour Workout: Open-Water Bulletproofing

Apr 24, 2018 Training

5 Steps to Ensuring Your Bike Is Race-Ready After Travel

Apr 24, 2018 Bike

Can the Keto Diet Work for Endurance Athletes?

Apr 24, 2018 Nutrition

3 Unique Recovery Techniques From Around the World

Apr 24, 2018 Training

Photos: 2018 Ironman 70.3 Florianópolis

Apr 23, 2018 Ironman

14 Triathlon Bikes Reviewed

Apr 23, 2018 Bike

Beginner’s Luck: The Secret of Doing a First Triathlon

Apr 23, 2018 Lifestyle

Photos: 2018 Surf City Escape Triathlon

Apr 23, 2018 Photos

Monday Minute: Increase Hip Flexor Strength

Apr 23, 2018 Injury Prevention

VIEW MORE >>

5 Spring Trail Running Tips

Training

One-Hour Workout: Open-Water Bulletproofing

Training

3 Unique Recovery Techniques From Around the World

Training

Beginner’s Luck: The Secret of Doing a First Triathlon

Lifestyle

Monday Minute: Increase Hip Flexor Strength

Injury Prevention

Lessons From This Year’s Surprise Boston Marathon Winner

Training

Quick Set: Scale The Pyramid

Training

Tips and Tricks from One of Triathlon’s Fastest Swimmers

Swim

Could This Neurostimulation Technique Improve Athletic Performance?

Training

Unlock Tight Hips in 3 Moves

Training

VIEW MORE >>

Photo Galleries

Photos: Triathletes Support Puerto Rico’s Recovery Efforts

Photos By Paul PhillipsMar 26, 2018

Photos: Declan Wilson Has Breakout Race at New Plymouth World Cup

Race Coverage By Triathlete.comMar 26, 2018

The Absolute Best Tri Gear of 2018

News By Triathlete.comApr 18, 2018

Photos: Buckingham, Charles on Top in South Africa

Photos By Triathlete.comApr 16, 2018

Photos: 2,500 Age-Groupers Compete at 70.3 Oceanside

Race Coverage By Triathlete.comApr 12, 2018

Triathlete

SEARCH TRIATHLETE

GET THE MAGAZINE

SUBSCRIBE NOW

CONNECT

  • Follow Us on Twitter
  • Like Us on facebook
  • Follow Us on Instagram
  • View Our Videos on Youtube

© 2018 POCKET OUTDOOR MEDIA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  • Gear & Tech
  • Training
  • Nutrition
  • Lifestyle
  • News
  • Subscribe
  • TwitterFacebookInstagram
  • All
  • 2018 Buyer's Guide
  • Swim
  • Bike
  • Run
  • All
  • Swim
  • Bike
  • Run
  • Injury Prevention
  • All
  • Race Day & Training
  • Recipes
  • Weight Loss
  • All
  • Culture
  • Races
  • Travel
  • All
  • Triathlon
  • Gear
  • Ironman