(We would like to introduce you to our worldwide network of Certified TI Coaches. The people we profile here have invested a lot of time and effort into their practice as swimmers and coaches.  We hope you enjoy getting to know them and hearing about their strengths, challenges, and accomplishments).

 

todd erickson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Todd Erickson

St. Antonio Texas, USA

www.swimsmartsa.com

 

Family Summary:  Married to Nancy, my High School Sweetheart (that’s 47 years), my companion and training partner/coach.  Two grown children: Garth, his wife Carolijn (from Suriname) and their two girls, Isabella and Elsa; Kate (also a TI Coach and running summer children swim program at Aviano AB IT), her husband Oushan and their son Gunnar who all live in Sacile IT.  And our newest member of the family, Floki, a 14 week old Portuguese Water Dog, my newest training partner.

What made you decide to become a TI Coach? 

I had been swimming my entire life and coaching off and on during my Air Force Career.  Upon retiring in 1996 I started coaching High School Boys and Girls Swimming and Water Polo.  I came across TI in a National High School Swim Coaches publication and it made me delve deeper into it.  TI dove tailed perfectly with what we were using/teaching.  As I began to swim for myself again in 2003 I turned again to TI, as I had seen its’ success with beginning and advance high school swimmers.  The stroke had changed and was closer to my old technique that had been corrected by unknowing coaches.  I fell in love with the new technique and philosophy of Kaizen – always striving to improve to be better every time I got in the water.  With that renewed inspiration, and after several jobs coaching high school, I decided to come back to my first passion of swimming and get certified in TI so I could teach adult on-set swimmers how to swim easily and enjoy the water as much as I do.

Tell us about your best swim. 

I am not an overly experienced open water swimmer. I did a baby step with the SERC annual Alcatraz swim in 2009.  I started serious long open water swims in 2011 with the Waikiki Rough Water.  My goal is to do at least one to two long open water swims a year.  I participated twice in the 8 Bridges Swims in the Hudson River, NY (2014, 2016). They are fantastic, fun and well run by Dave Barra and Rhondi Davies.  However, to get to your question, I’d have to say my English Channel attempt last summer was the best I have done in open water.  Even though I was a mile short of completion, it was the furthest swim for me to date (approx. 35 miles) and longest (14.5 hours) in 62-63 degree water.  I would not have even considered this swim before TI, which gave me an efficient stroke and gave me the confidence in my swimming ability

Tell us about kaizen opportunities you’ve identified in your own swimming.

There were really two that jumped out at me.  First learning the 2 beat kick and how it timed the entire stroke even when I purposely revert to a 6 beat kick for pool competition.  In over 50+ years of swimming, no coach had ever explained the purpose of the kick to me other than kick as hard and fast as you can.  The other was pressing the buoy.  This direction had always escaped me and I had finally given up on trying to understand what they meant.  It wasn’t until practicing skating and opening the axilla that I finally felt this press and it was a WOW moment.

Are there any TI Coaches who you find inspiring?

Well there are two.

David Cameron.  He has such a great program and facilities with his association with the YWCA and then his TI Coaching Business and his constant travel to do clinics world-wide.

The second would be Marjon Huibers.  She brought a wealth of swimming knowledge and swimming safety knowledge with her to TI and with her marketing background I have witnessed a tremendous amount of growth of TI.