New Total Immersion Coach

by CoachGail

My name is Gail Flint, I am now a newly certified Total Immersion Swim coach. I had an amazing time in Coronado, I have learned so much from everyone on that trip. You think you will be learning a set schedule of information, what you end up learning is a lot more. The people you meet in a Total Immersion Clinic seem to be the people you wish you could meet each day. I was enjoying the learning process with Clay, my student on the Level 2 Total Immersion course. He was so dedicated to the learning process, he worked so hard and in the end he was so amazing. In all of his time there he spent 100 percent of it focusing on one goal, "Getting it" and he got it.

My co-coaches in training were the highlight of my time there. You could spend a life time trying to meet people like this, and here they were all in one place. I enjoyed the connections we all made and enjoyed some of the quieter times with some, and of course the romping on the beach.

A little about myself, I coach triathletes in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. My coaching has involved all aspects of triathlon and my swim focus has been on technique using the teaching methods of Total Immersion. This is the reason I came to be certified, I was looking for validation that I was doing it correctly. I have the best job in the world. I am meeting the most amazing people, and I get to work with them everyday to get them to their goals. I get to see such determination and drive in some people that it lifts me up. To see them race is the highlight of my year. I get to see them begin something push through the hard part, set a goal and strive for that goal, then to watch them attain it and sometimes surpass it, that is a feeling that everyone should have in their job. True accomplishment achieved through complete focus.

I am beginning some Total Immersion classes now in a shallow pool in Edmonton, this will allow me to get people started easier and bypass the struggles I have found in the deep pool. I am excited to begin this journey.

March 25th, 2011 CoachGail. 9

MyBlog

http://www.tribasetraining.com CoachRyan

Welcome, Gail! Great to have you in the TI family! Maybe we will work together one day. Happy swimming to you.
CSLEE

Dear Gail Flint:

I have tried to start a new thread in the forum area but in vain. Hope my message here won’t bother you too much.
I recently read a few books on TI, honestly, I totally agree with the points stated by Terry, especially on balance, streamline, arms extend and body rotation, I notice a lot of swimmer do not bother (or don’t know) to do this, including me, because I have a 9+ son who has been in competitive swimming for almost 2 years.

I shall surely ask my son’s coach to include Terry’s drills in his coaching lesson. But just one question regarding certain techniques, like two-beat kick and relaxed recovery, I am not sure whether these technique will help when it comes to short distance racing? Or are there any other books by Terry which just focus on this aspect, I mean specifically for competitive swimmers?

Hope u cud shed some light here.

CS Lee
Penang, Malaysia
http://distancedave.com/ CoachGail

Thank you for posting your comments, these are very valid. I am attaching Dave Cameron’s website on this attachment, I am hoping you contact him regarding your questions. He spends all his time creating the fastest youth swimmers, so I know he can help answer your questions. Gail
http://www.triathloncoachgail.com CoachGail

Dear CS Lee:

http://distancedave.com/ if you use this link you can reach Dave Cameron regarding your questions. I know he has the answers for you. Gail
CSLEE

tq, Gail, really appreciate.
clayti

Gail,

I was hoping that I could thank you again for your help and patience.
So THANK YOU!

All of you up in Edmonton have a real gem of a coach.
You really must give her a try.
I should mention that she a nice person too.

Defy the odds,
Clay
http://www.triathloncoachgail.com CoachGail

Thank you for contacting me, I was hoping to get an update on the swimming, how is it feeling? Thank you also for working with me at the clinic, it was great to work with someone who was open to the total immersion lessons as well as so committed to getting it. I enjoyed our day together, and am still curious how your swim is going now. Have a great day Clay

Gail
clayti

Gail,

I am still at 16 spl but getting smoother. Catch hand is finally relaxed. That was a tough change for me.
Everyting still needs much improvement but most all areas, including breathing, are becoming more natural.
My plan is too continue work on the high elbow catch in hopes that the spl will drop.
Will start getting more serious with Tempo Trainer this week.

Thanks again.
As always, defy the odds,
Clay
http://www.triathloncoachgail.com CoachGail

I had a new client the other day, he was pretty insistent on getting a lesson, he wanted to do triathlon, but really needed to get the swim. He met me after a group lesson and quietly introduced himself and told me he hoped he could look like my other students. I did my usual video of his swim at the beginning and his swim at the end.

Why am I writing about this particular individual over all the others. He wanted Total Immersion, he wanted to get this so bad, he is determined and yet came to me with an open mind, no reservations, no preconceived notions. An open mind is like a freshly tilled field waiting for planting, it is exciting to plant the seed and watch it grow. What grew in 45 minutes is unreal. Our brief encounter changed his oppinion, from I can’t to I can! He felt like a swimmer when he left, he needed to give me a hug as he wanted this so bad and in his mind felt it was out of reach.

I encounter so many people and most of them hang on to survivor stuggles with a death grip. They try to relax, but there is always something that creeps back in. They want to work hard at swimming to get it, I want them to work less and get relaxed, the difference in our approaches sometimes creates a need for a number of lessons. This last student made me realize that when you want something bad enough that you will do anything, you will probably succeed.