Well I won't be making The Challenge this year

captdownshift said: ... I won't be making The Challenge this year

I beg to differ.

Whirlwind day yesterday. Swan for an hour and 45 minutes then rode for 2 hours. Received some encouraging words of support from some incredibly highly decorated world class athletes one of whom has arranged for me to head up to MA in the next few weeks to get fitted for a Parlee cycle. Another is working on possibly solutions to allow me to swim backstroke for the swim portion as my endurance is superior in back when compared to free due to the shoulder damage and my splits after 800m are faster in back. Conversation of energy and staying loose will be paramount. I'm humbled by the support and resources being invested into this effort.

Sounds like an awesome time!

I'm curious - what sort of problems exist when trying to swim backstroke in open water? Is it a navigation issue (I always have trouble swimming straight on backstroke), and how do you solve that?

In reply to Keith Tanner:

You nailed it, it's navigation. The idea being put out is having a sky writer map the course out a km in front of me. I'll have to check the wind the day of to compensate and huge the edge of the downwind layout. Something about having a bird in the air for 2 hours seems a bit crazy $$$ to me. But that's the current concept being kicked around.

Way to go Cap'n!

On the backstroke navigation issue- I have no idea what your mobility constraints are, but how difficult would it be for you to incorporate a full or partial roll into your backstroke occasionally? Water polo players do that sort of transfer into and out of backstroke all the time, and if you practiced it maybe it could become part of your normal cadence.

Congratulations!

Maybe see if you can get someone to develop a smartwatch application that emits different tones based on your heading. If you hear a certain tone you know you're on course. Sort of like the audible rate-of-climb indicator glider pilots use.

Edit: Just realized that the watch passing under water will cause it to lose the GPS signal. So you'd have to strap the smartwatch to your head. And if it's above water all the time, you might as well have it read out the difference to your desired heading.

Maybe a drone carrying a flag? Or with a repeater/beeper to a watch like gameboy mentioned? I'm just spitballing here. Almost seems like a great project for the hive to tackle in itself.

I'm a little bummed I won't get to meet you at the challenge, but Damn dude, talk about above and beyond with recovery. Knowing parts of what you've been through over the years, this is impressive and awesome.

Very cool! Is breaststroke completely out? I occasionally use it on longer (1-2+ mile) swims as a break for my right shoulder which gets pissed with a constant freestyle pace.

It seems like a canoe or kayak with a helper would be an easier way to get this done...unless a support vessel isn't allowed in the water?

My thoughts exactly - kind of like the runner assistant that blind racers get. Seems like the easiest option. I've only ever done one tri, but there were safety kayaks in the water during the swim.

This is incredible news.

Is the side stroke an option?

This is awesome news! So great to hear your recovery is going so well!

hobiercr wrote: This is awesome news! So great to hear your recovery is going so well!

Significantly better news than the announcement a few years back that you, Hobiercr, would not be making it to The Challenge!

Go man, go!

This is great news!!!

Show 'em how it's done!

Congrats to hearing you are doing somethingbinsane but veey cool.

Breaststroke is entirely out with the shoulder and hip due to the kick with it. Side stroke is just too inefficient and not to mention slow. The idea of drones was mentioned, but they simply don't stay in the air long enough making a bird in the air the current plan. Thanks to tourist tour activities they are plentiful