2019 Elite Technique Academy (Kingsport, TN) - This Technique Academy consists of five individual clinic sessions over five days to improve ALL ASPECTS of participants’ racing. Sign up for individual sessions or ALL of them by clicking register now.

Each of the first four days of the Academy will focus in detail on each of the strokes plus STARTS. The week will culminate on Day 5 with a focus on race preparation including crisp turns, underwater dolphin kicking and applying what was learned during the week at race pace.

At each session we will be in the water demonstrating and making corrections to the participants. We will also use video to exemplify elite mechanics and race strategy. Participants will complete the camp as stronger, more confident swimmers, and with the understanding that big improvements come from small, consistent changes.

Leading each session of the Academy is Elite Clinician and National Champion Austin Surhoff! We expect swimmers from throughout the USA to come to this camp to spend five days learning from him! Scroll down for more details on the curriculum.

Times Each Day:

Ages 9 to 12: Check-in: 9:00 AM; Event: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
13 & Older: Check-in: 12:30 PM; Event: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Suggested Participants

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The Academy consists of five clinic sessions for swimmers ages 13 & over and five sessions for swimmers ages 9 to 12 who have at least two years of competitive experience. Swimmers younger than 9 years old are not recommended for the Academy without their coach’s supportn.

Curriculum

Day 1 (Monday): Butterfly and Underwater Dolphin Kicking

On Day 1, National Champion Austin Surhoff will work with the participants to improve on the complexities of balancing power and fluid rhythm in one of the most dynamic athletic movements. Elite butterfliers maintain forward momentum by setting an immediate high catch with a perfectly timed kick. They are committed to a breathing pattern, perfecting their distance per stroke, and maintaining a horizontal body position - become committed to these same skills...make them YOUR habits.

Body Position: Elite butterfliers focus on driving their momentum forward with minimal drag by keeping their heads low and hips high. Participants will work with Austin Surhoff on establishing and maintaining the proper body position.
Kick: Each butterfly stroke has two equally strong and well-timed kicks. Work on how and when to kick in butterfly for maximum speed.
Pull: Long and smooth strokes will allow your swimmer to have a more efficient butterfly. Austin will teach participants to get an early catch on the water for more power in each stroke.
Breath: The most common mistakes swimmers make in butterfly occur during the breath. Swimmers will work on low and efficient breaths as well as WHEN to breathe so that they can swim more efficiently on the breath stroke.
Underwater Dolphin Kicking: The not-so-secret weapon of elite level swimmers is their underwater dolphin kick. The fastest swimmers in the world are faster underwater than on the surface, and they utilize this skill. Austin Surhoff will teach your swimmer how to unlock the speed and power of their underwater dolphin kick to generate more speed leading into their breakout.

Day 2 (Tuesday): Backstroke and Backstroke Starts

Your swimmer understands main components of backstroke, now begin to master the subtle skills that will help your swimmer compete at a higher level. Participants will practice using their core to create rotation and a stable and balanced stroke, build a powerful pull with a strategic use of stroke rate, and use their kick as a dominant propulsive force.

Body Position: Participants will work with National Champion Austin Surhoff to feel and understand how to maintain a neutral spine and head position for less drag and better full body connection in backstroke.
Kick: Have you ever noticed how many swimmers’ knees break the surface when they kick in backstroke? This means that the swimmer is kicking with their knees which is less efficient than kicking from their hip. Austin will help swimmers maintain maximum propulsion with the proper kicking technique.
Pull: It is important for swimmers to bend their elbow very early in the pull so that they can get an early catch for an immediate and powerful press back into the water.
Rotation: The fastest backstrokers in the world use a powerful rotation to create more power and increase their tempo. Learn how much to rotate, when to rotate, and how to use it for maximum speed and power.
Backstroke Starts: Getting into the right ready position by utilizing the backstroke ledge with a straight back, hips high on the surface of the water, and feet positioned to get maximum power is extremely important to being able to execute a fast and clean backstroke start. Austin will work with swimmers at this session to achieve a beautiful back arch over the water so that they can have an advantage in every backstroke race!

Day 3 (Wednesday): Breaststroke and Starting Position

More than any other stroke, breaststroke is the most varied. Out of the eight finalists at the Olympic Games, you might see eight different styles of strokes! Without fail, your swimmer's timing and ability to eliminate resistance are both hallmarks of an efficient and powerful breaststroker. Your swimmer has the foundation, now learn from the expert how to utilize the core and hip drive to create a fluid and more forward driving stroke.

Body Position: The best swimmers in the world learn at a young age about the importance of being patient with their stroke and trusting their "glide position.” Too many young swimmers rush their stroke, create "drag" (i.e. slow themselves down) and exhaust themselves. Austin Surhoff will work with participants to maintain a better body position for a more efficient breaststroke.
Kick: The three parts of the kick are hips, knees, and feet. Austin will work with participants to kick with power from their hips while keeping their knees close and feet wide. The kick is about 80% of the power in breaststroke. Get more out of each kick for a faster breaststroke!
Pull: Participants in this session will learn drills to encourage them to keep their hands and elbows high on the water throughout the entire pull, thereby minimizing resistance and maintaining speed.
Timing: A fast breaststroke is all about the rhythm! The proper timing will make the stroke fast, smooth and less taxing on the body. Learn how your clinician times their breaststroke for ultimate efficiency.
Starting Position: Your swimmer will work with Austin Surhoff at this session to ensure that they have established the proper "ready position.” Their feet should be apart enough to be balanced and get a good jump with hips high and a neutral head position. With the right muscle activations, your swimmer will have a faster reaction time and a more efficient start.

Day 4 (Thursday): Freestyle and Starts

Freestyle is the stroke that is swum more than any other. Creating good freestyle habits will not only help your swimmer race faster, but it will also help prevent injuries later. National Champion Austin Surhoff will be in the water leading participants through each part of the freestyle stroke and drills to help them create muscle memory with proper technique and deepen their understanding of fast and efficient freestyle mechanics.

Bodyline: Your swimmer's freestyle will never be fast without a strong bodyline. Your swimmer will reinforce good posture and engage their core to have a strong foundation for a faster freestyle.
Kick: Become a stronger and faster kicker by learning about both the technique and timing of each kick from a National Champion.
Pull: The best swimmers in the world utilize an early vertical forearm to put immediate pressure back on the water. Austin will also teach swimmers how to get maximum extension and a powerful finish. Learn new drills and exercises to get more power out of every stroke!
Rotation: Participants will learn to utilize their rotation to form more connection and power out of every pull and every kick.
Breath: All swimmers know to keep one goggle in and one goggle out of the water when they take a breath, but do they know when and how long to breathe? Austin will show your swimmer how to make each breath more efficient for faster freestyle racing no matter the distance.
Start: Many swimmers forget to actually use their arms AND legs off of the start. It is very important to pull on the block with the arms and jump through the legs in order to get more speed and power in the air. Austin will help participants learn how to be more explosive and dynamic as they leave the blocks.

Day 5 (Friday): Turns, Finishes, and Race Practice

Races are often won and lost because of the quality of turns and finishes. Many people don't realize this, but the push off and streamline from the wall SHOULD BE the fastest a swimmer will go while in the water other than the streamline after a dive. Even elite level swimmers often add in extra movements on their turns and finishes that slow them down and can cause them to lose races that they could have won. At this session, National Champion Austin Surhoff will work with each participant to maintain their momentum at these key points in a race.

Flip Turns: Your swimmer will learn how to carry their momentum through the turn to get in and out of every wall faster. Swimmers will practice accelerating into the wall with long strokes and then use their core and arms to get through the turn. They'll practice planting their feet on the wall for a powerful push off in the perfect streamline. Austin will give the swimmers drills and exercises to help them master this athletic skill!
Open Turns: Think about the open turn differently! You should not be using an open turn to just touch the wall and push off for the next lap. If you're doing this, you're actually stopping and trying to regain speed again. An expertly executed open turn involves spinning backwards. This enables the swimmer to carry momentum into the push off. We're going to teach your swimmer how to cut a lot of time on this turn which is helpful in all breaststroke and butterfly races!
Finishes: Many races come down to the very last stroke. Your swimmer will learn how to drive their legs, elongate their arms, and keep their head down so that they don't waste any time or strokes as they approach the wall.
Race Practice: To wrap up this five day camp, participants will get the opportunity to prove what they've learned by racing each stroke! Swimmers will be challenged to swim all out with the skills and techniques that they learned over the course of the week and maintain that form through fatigue.

ASK QUESTIONS

Each day, swimmers and parents are invited to ask Austin questions during a Q&A session. Gain insight into his training regimen, diet and nutrition, and recovery tactics.

WATCH THE CLINICIAN

Observe Austin swim at full speed and demonstrate a progression of perfectly executed drills to achieve powerful, efficient, and fast swimming.

PUT YOUR SKILLS TO THE TEST

Get your heart rate up with one of the best swimmers in the world and watch his near-flawless technique - achieved by practicing the same drills he will teach you.

Take a photo while wearing Austin's medals, get autographs, and receive a special gift from our sponsors!

Inquisitive, Educated Swimmers are Faster Swimmers! Sign up TODAY!

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