Triton Swim Trainer to Vasa Trainer®
We consider the Triton Swim Trainer the “next generation” freestyle swim trainer as we have addressed some of the perceived shortcomings found on “previously designed” dry-land trainers by making improvements in both freestyle swim form and also comfort. Some of these enhancements are explained below.
With the Triton, no hand paddles are attached to your hands throughout the entire stroke: The Triton’s swim system creates a “virtual water line” so that your arm is bearing weight only when it is
working in the water – just like during real swimming. When your arm has completed its stroke and ‘on-the-recover’, it will rise above the virtual water line free of hand attachments, cables and straps as found on the Vasa Trainer® and other previously designed devices.
The Triton designers have tried to replicate as closely as possible the experience during a true freestyle water swim. Although, a swim drill using stretch cords to work reverse muscle resistance for certain workout sets is a good one to do, we do not recommend that reverse tension to be constant throughout the workout as it is not natural to open water swimming.
The Triton Swim trainer forces good form and habits:
With all previously designed swim trainers, the user reaches out into “mid-air” and replicates a swim stroke to the best of his or her ability. That point of entry is a random point so there is potential to make mistakes such as crossing the midline and/or beyond the recommended shoulder line with any given stroke. For a novice swimmer or triathlete making these mistakes during dryland workouts - this can be self-defeating as these athletes will also take these mistakes to the water.
The Triton Swim Trainer is designed to eliminate any chance of crossing the midline at the start of any stroke during practice and thus helps reinforce by memory a correct entry and ‘”catch”. The correct and repetitive entry on the Triton becomes habit and taken to the water for competition. Any athlete who is not professionally coached should consider this an important attribute of the Triton Swim Trainer over the previously designed trainers.
For this reason, we also believe the Triton is the most useful land trainer to help demonstrate proper entry and stroking form for swim students. The Total Immersion® recommended stroke and catch-up drills can also be practiced on the Triton.
The Kicking Attachment found only on the Triton Swim Trainer:
The Triton Swim Trainer comes with a kicking attachment which serves several purposes. It is the only dryland swim trainer with this type of kicking mechanism while the Vasa Trainer® and previous devices do not have an equivalent flutter kicking mechanism.
Athletes have used the kicking attachment for the following:
- Some athletes use the kicking attachment to rest their legs as they might do in longer triathlons – focusing on keeping the legs straight and tapered, with knees together and toes pointed. The swimmer can concentrate on the arms workout while reducing the discomfort of having to dangle suspended legs in mid-air.
- Other athletes use the resistance of the kicking attachment to strengthen many of the major legs muscle groups - hip flexors, buttocks, hamstrings and calves. Flutter kicking upward against the bands are a worthwhile exercise on their own however, when used in conjunction with the arms, the workout intensifies with the core engaged.
- With the legs pressed up against the tension on the kicking attachment, the user can also use the leverage to practice a degree of body rotation of the torso. As with any dryland trainer, it is not easy to roll on a flat platform to achieve that desired rotation which only water buoyancy can provide, however the kicking attachment provides a level of stability needed for a measure of rotation.
More questions regarding the merits of the Triton Swim Trainer? Please write: info@tritonfitness.com
