There are some great open water swim tips in this video. One tip I'd like to add is for swimmers to practice open water starts a week or two prior to the event. The start of an open water race can be extremely overwhelming, so it's important to know what that close physical contact feels like before you step into your race. First, practice running into the water from the beach, swim 200 meters hard, settle into race pace for 200 meters, and then swim back easily. Once you have done this a few times on your own, ask a few friends to do this start next to you. Try to stay close and really feel what it's like to swim in a pack. Also, have a plan of what to do if you panic. Most swimmers like to swim to the side of the pack and roll over on their back to catch their breath. If you do this, you will be much more prepared to start on race day.
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