Past Clinic: High Performance Racing Technique

Old Dominion University, "Scrap" Chandler Natatorium
1510 W 48th St, Norfolk, VA 23508

A description of what was covered at this past clinic is below the upcoming clinics.

Upcoming Swim Clinics and Camps

Within 250 miles of Norfolk, VA.

Starting Dec 27, 2024

Warrenton Area Recreational Facility (WARF)

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Starting Dec 28, 2024

Greensboro College Reynolds Family Student Life Center

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Starting Dec 28, 2024

Burkwood Swim and Racquet Club (Lower Pool - Bubble)

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Starting Jan 11, 2025

Big Spring High School Natatorium

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Starting Feb 08, 2025

Life Time Athletic - Fort Washington

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Starting Mar 16, 2024

Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center

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Starting Mar 16, 2024

Jeff Rouse Swim and Sport Center

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Search all of our clinics at our find a clinic page.

Past Clinic

Introduction

This is a three-session swim camp that will jump-start swimmers in preparation for the short course yards season ahead.

Your clinician for this camp will be Elite clinician and National Champion Austin Surhoff.

Sign up for one, two, or SAVE by signing up for all three sessions. Read more on the curriculum for each session below.

Suggested Participants

Take advantage of early bird pricing – Sign up before prices rise!

Austin Surhoff will lead 3 sessions designed for swimmers ages 9 and older.

Curriculum

SESSION 1: DIVES, BACKSTROKE STARTS, AND UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING

The start is your opportunity to cover as much ground as possible in a very short period of time, with great efficiency and momentum heading into your underwater kicking and breakout. There are countless intricacies to performing a start and you only get better with practice. Austin Surhoff will share his experience on how he found time to practice and improve his start both in and out of the water and teach your swimmer some of his most effective strategies to execute this explosive and athletic movement.

  • STARTS: How you set up on the block including proper hand and foot placement can allow your swimmer to explode forward with a lot of explosive power. Austin will work with each swimmer to find their best position on the block as well as how to launch their body forward into a tight streamline and enter through a small hole.
  • BACKSTROKE STARTS: Getting into the right ready position 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!
  • UNDERWATER DOLPHIN KICKING: The not-so-secret weapon of elite level swimmers is their underwater dolphin kick. Austin Surhoff is known as one of the best underwater dolphin kickers in the world and he specializes in teaching swimmers how to unlock their potential in this important skill.

SESSION 2: BUTTERFLY AND BREASTSTROKE

The short axis strokes are butterfly and breaststroke! These are very similar and challenging strokes to master due to the importance of rhythm! Participants at this session will learn not only how to have a stronger pull and kick, but also WHEN each movement should happen so that they can swim more connected and with more efficiency.

  • BUTTERFLY: Perfect 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 - Austin will help your swimmer become committed to these same skills to make them their habits every time they swim fly!
  • BREASTSTROKE: Your swimmer will begin with a strong understanding of the timing of the kick and pull and begin to utilize the same strategies world class breaststrokers use to minimize their footprint in the water. Participants will learn the skills of swimming in a horizontal plane, keeping the hips high throughout the entire cycle and utilizing a small but powerful kick while generating power forward with their recovery.

SESSION 3: FLIP TURNS AND OPEN TURNS

Most age group swimmers add in extra movements on their open and flip turns that slow them down and prevent them from carrying their momentum through the turn! Even at Olympic Trials we see many very fast swimmers who miss making finals and even the Olympic team because of their turns! The turn is an opportunity for a swimmer to actually GAIN MOMENTUM, when in fact most swimmers actually slow down. At this session, National Champion Austin Surhoff will be in the water teaching your swimmer how to improve their turns so that they can drop time!

  • 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 using their core and arms to get through the turn. They'll practice planting their feet on the wall for a powerful pushoff in the perfect streamline. Austin Surhoff will give the swimmers drills and exercises to help them master this athletic skill now as well as in the future!
  • OPEN TURNS: Think about the open turn differently! You should not be making an open to turn around and swim the next lap. If you're doing this - you're actually stopping and then trying to regain speed again. An expertly executed open turn involves spinning backwards. This enables you to carry momentum into the pushoff. We're going to teach you how to cut a lot of time on this turn... helping you in all of your breaststroke and butterfly races!

ASK QUESTIONS

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

Swimmers will get to practice what they've learned by taking their stroke to top speed with one of the best swimmers in the world! They'll work on holding onto their form while challenging themselves.

Take a photo while wearing Austin's medals, get autographs, and a gift from TYR Sport!

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

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