Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
A swimmer would probably prefer to spend most waking moments in the water. According to Team USA, gold medalist Ian Silverman doesn't like to be out of the pool for more than a day. While performing different swimming strokes provides a full-body workout, the repetitive motions of freestyle swimming can cause certain muscles to overdevelop, while leaving others unaffected. Participating in a variety of dryland exercises helps balance things out and can improve endurance, too.
Not every teenager who joins the swim team in high school has a competitive swimming background. Teens new to competitive swimming will need to learn starts, turns, the four competitive swim strokes and all the swimming events in a meet. Workouts and training schedules should be designed to build endurance while refining technique. Building a new team or blending a team of novice and experienced swimmers means keeping teens motivated while teaching skills and building unity.
Triathletes, competitive swimmers and individuals who are looking to improve efficiency and speed commonly incorporate drills as part of a regular swimming routine. Swimming drills are modifications of swimming strokes, which focus on specific components to improve technique and strength. Drills may include one swimming stroke or a combination of different strokes.
Using swimming equipment while performing deep water exercises just sounds dangerous. It seems that free hands and shallow water provide the most ideal conditions for underwater conditioning. Athletes and physical therapists, however, find that swimming is not enough and employ specialized equipment designed for greater muscle toning and cardiovascular output.
Cutting a straw for blowing bubbles can take regular sized bubbles and turn them into big ones. Cut a straw for blowing bubbles with help from an experienced crafts expert in this free video clip.
The best swim shorts for large thighs are actually a swim dress. Learn about the best swim shorts for large thighs with help from the owner and creative director for Ose in this free video clip.
If the water line in your swimming pool freezes the first thing you need to do is shut off all your pumps. Find out what to do when the water line in your swimming pool freezes with help from a swimming pool and spa industry professional with over twenty years of experience in this free video clip.
The annual upkeep on a swimming pool is going to require two major things: time and money. Find out about the annual upkeep on a swimming pool with help from a swimming pool and spa industry professional with over twenty years of experience in this free video clip.
If swimming pool water isn't coming out of the jets, your lines may have developed a clog at some point. Learn what to do if swimming pool water is not coming out of the jets with help from a swimming pool and spa industry professional with over twenty years of experience in this free video clip.
You can't just turn off a swimming pool when you don't plan on using it any longer. Decommission a swimming pool in the right way with help from a swimming pool and spa industry professional with over twenty years of experience in this free video clip.
If you don't replace the grout around brick coping on a swimming pool the pool could develop serious leaks at a later date. Replace grout around brick coping on a swimming pool with help from a swimming pool and spa industry professional with over twenty years of experience in this free video clip.
The choice of your swimming goggles can greatly affect your enjoyment of the sport. Choose swim goggles with help from an experienced and dedicated swimmer in this free video clip.
The fastest breaststrokers are the ones that crate the least amount of resistance. Build speed in the breaststroke with help from an experienced and dedicated swimmer in this free video clip.
When building swimming endurance with fun drills, the key word that you always want to remember is "fun." Build swimming endurance with fun drills with help from an experienced and dedicated swimmer in this free video clip.
An in-ground pool can bring enjoyment and value to any home. With this additional feature, there are many things to consider, such as routine maintenance and occasional repair. All water and chemicals are supplied through underground pipes, which may sometimes rupture due to soil conditions or the age of the pipe. It is possible to repair busted pipes without calling a technician by being prepared with the correct supplies and knowledge of the process.
Exercises aren't just for toning and getting in shape - they can also help you do various physical activities better than ever before. Find out about exercises that will certainly help you swim better with help from an experienced health and fitness professional in this free video clip.
Getting a water level in a toilet back to normal is something you might have to do after replacing the overflow. Get the water level in a toilet back to normal with help from an experienced construction professional in this free video clip.
Nothing beats the heat in the summer like a swimming pool, and there is no better pool than the one you own yourself. Fancy in-ground pools are difficult and pricey to install. But you can save money by installing your own above-ground pool using a pool kit and concrete blocks for support, without needing to know how to mix and pour huge batches of concrete.
If your swimming pool was finished with 3M Colorquartz tiles, then you have a finish that is tough and long-lasting as well as beautiful. If you have changed your mind about the color you chose, though, or changed the decor of your whole house, then the durability of the finish can be a drawback. However, with the right products and a little elbow grease you can darken the color of your swimming pool to match the new look.
Heating your swimming pool extends its usability by weeks or even months, depending on where you live. Unfortunately, you cannot heat your swimming pool simply by running the pool water through your household water heating system. The chemicals that make the pool water safe to swim in would rapidly eat away at the pipes and machinery of your boiler. This is what heat exchangers were made for. A heat exchanger is a device that heats oil, water or antifreeze in its own boiler and runs it through a metal device that brings the pool water near the hot liquid but…
A swimming pool doesn't have to be a hindrance at a party - you can actually use it as a decoration. Learn about things that you can float in a swimming pool to decorate for a party with help from a professional event planner in this free video clip.
Certain swimming drills are great for building up endurance for your body. Learn about swim drills to build up endurance with help from a swim instructor, lifeguard instructor and waterfront director in this free video clip.
Swimming isn't just a great way to pass the time, but it can be a great way to get fit as well. Learn about swimming drills for the legs with help from a swim instructor, lifeguard instructor and waterfront director in this free video clip.
Swimming with a swim cap can reduce drag and help you move more rapidly through the water. Learn about the aerodynamics of swimming with a swim cap with help from a swim instructor, lifeguard instructor and waterfront director in this free video clip.
The butterfly stroke is designed to be performed in a very particular way for the best results. Learn about butterflies in swimming with help from a swim instructor, lifeguard instructor and waterfront director in this free video clip.
Sharing lanes is often required for busy pools when people are doing laps from one end to the other. Learn about swimming pool etiquette on sharing lanes with help from a swim instructor, lifeguard instructor and waterfront director in this free video clip.
A swimming pool can be a great place to exercise, so long as you know what you're doing. Exercise in a swimming pool with help from a swim instructor, lifeguard instructor and waterfront director in this free video clip.
Just because you've got long hair doesn't mean you should have any trouble putting on a swimming cap. Learn about a great swimming cap technique for long hair with help from a swim instructor, lifeguard instructor and waterfront director in this free video clip.
Of course you want to keep your pool water sparkling clean, but it takes more than chemicals and skimming the water. Backwashing your pool filter is just as important, and saves electricity and pump life as well. Three types of swimming pool filtration systems exist: cartridge, diatomaceous Earth and sand. Dirty water flows through these filtration systems, where dirt and debris become trapped. Cartridges don't require backwashing; the pool owner simply removes the filter media and rinses it off before replacing. Sand and DE filters, on the other hand, perform best when water is forced through the filter system in…
Swimming pools add a clean and controlled environment for exercising during the summer. Above-ground pools come in kits that the homeowner can assemble, and do not require you to dig a large hole and pour concrete. Many homeowners want to bury their above-ground pool to make it appear to be an in-ground pool. This is not safe because the walls of these pools are not strong enough to withstand the weight of fill material. Above-ground pools installed in a space cut out of a slope can have a small amount of backfill around them, however, to prevent soil erosion.
Anyone can grill food over an open campfire. However, if you really enjoy cooking your own food outdoors, you may have your sights set on building an outdoor barbecue. Whether you are planning a permanent grill, a smoker or even an outdoor oven, you need to know how to make a chimney. The first step to build a chimney is to lay the chimney blocks.
Marbelite is a colored finishing plaster with a cement base used for coating concrete or gunite pool surfaces. Marbelite is applied in a single day to avoid creating any appearance of joints in the surface. Once installed, the material creates a marbled-looking surface after water is added to the pool, increasing the attractiveness of the pool while adding to its value.
Aboveground pools are bargains compared with in-ground pools, particularly in areas where the ground freezes and thaws over the course of winter. Aboveground pools are smaller, so they cost less by using less water and chemicals. Outfitting an aboveground pool can be just as expensive as outfitting an in-ground or inside pool, though. If you have a sturdy ladder and access to some leftover PVC water pipe and other salvage construction material, you can fabricate your own swank pool slide for a fraction of what one from a pool supply might cost. Measurements will vary with pool size and configuration.
Above-ground swimming pools are an option where soil conditions, such as thick stone, or other considerations make installing a pool in the ground difficult or impossible. Above-ground pools typically have a raised platform around them and may have lights installed on the perimeter. All above-ground pools must have a water filtering system, which uses a pump powered by an electric motor to remove contaminants from the water. All electrical outlets around an above-ground pool must be properly grounded to prevent any current from reaching the water. Each element should be grounded separately.
Believe it or not, the Skylark was at one point the basis for Buick’s most famed muscle car, the GS. Even though it never had the power of its big brother, the Skylark held its own, peaking at 285 horsepower in 1970. By time the 1980s rolled around, emission regulations and fuel prices slowly converted the Skylark into a fuel sipping family ride. The 1989 Skylark had three engines available: 2.3-liter, 2.5-liter and 3.3-liter. The 2.5-liter “iron duke” engine was the base level, while the 2.3-liter “quad four” and the 3.3-liter engines were options. Opening the Skylark’s cooling system and…
Backyard swimming pools provide hours of summertime entertainment, but are fraught with debris issues. This debris sometimes includes pebbles and small stones, which enter the pool on the bottom of your feet or are accidentally kicked in from the surrounding ground or deck. Draining the pebbles with the correct type of vacuum is the most effective way to remove them and other unwanted debris from the pool floor.
Tape measure 2-foot wooden stakes Rubber mallet Twine Spray paint Backhoe (hired) Garden spade
One of the perks of living in an area with year-round warm weather is the ability to swim outside practically any time -- if you make the right choices planning your own pool, you'll be able to enjoy this same luxury. Installing a pool is more complicated than digging a hole in the ground, though, and if you want to enjoy it year-round, you need to plan carefully. Neglecting to do so may leave you stranded on dry land or swimming laps indoors at the local gym instead of diving into your backyard deep end.
Dreadlocks make up a thick hairstyle consisting of individual strands of hair locked together to form larger strands. For people with dreadlocks, a swimming cap is a useful accessory for protecting your hairstyle in the water. No swimming cap is 100 percent waterproof, but these thin caps keep dreadlocks out your face and out of the water.
Without an operating skimmer in your above-ground pool, leaves, sticks, bugs and other debris will be left to float on the surface. Generally, a surface pool skimmer comes in two parts: the holding cup and the floating basket. After a few years of use, you may notice your skimmer becoming full of algae and discolored. You can replace a surface skimmer in less than an hour without draining any water out of the pool.
A pool's backwash valve is responsible for pushing water through the pool filter so debris gets removed from the water supply. The valve helps clean the filter by running water in reverse through it to remove accumulated dirt. A pool's valve system needs regular inspection to ensure that everything works properly. This device is not the only valve a pool relies on, but it is quickly identifiable if you must locate it.
In-ground swimming pools are more than just holes in the ground with water. Various components of the pool's maintenance system require electricity. These must be carefully protected from the water to avoid a severe electric shock to anyone in the pool. The National Electric Code carefully outlines the exact requirements for installing electricity around an in-ground swimming pool. Unless this is carefully followed, you or your family members could be injured or killed.
In-ground swimming pools feature many benefits, but if they're poorly maintained they may not last as long as you'd expect. For example, they can crack, pit and become unusable. If you own a pool you can retrofit it with a liner to look like new without having to sink an enormous amount of money into the project. Much of the work is within the capabilities of a backyard handyman.
A swimming pool diverter valve controls the path the water in your filtration system takes. The purpose of the valve is to control the flow of water between the skimmers, the main pump and the drain. With proper maintenance, a diverter valve will give you many years of service. This includes keeping the valve properly lubricated. The average do-it-yourselfer can install a new valve in just a short time with some basic tools found in most home toolboxes.
Accidentally dropping detergent or a bar of soap in your pool can be disastrous as soap bubbles form and the pH of your pool gets thrown off balance. Before your pool can return to normal operating condition, the soap needs to be completely removed. Once the soap is gone, you can add the necessary chemicals to restore the pool's alkalinity and mineral levels, which are essential to returning your pool's pH to an appropriate level.
African music is also commonly referred to as Manding music. In Manding fingerstyle technique, the players use their hands to strike, pluck and perform various complex rhythms on a string instrument called a kora. These techniques can be learned with enough practice and the proper education about the styles and methods involved. Manding music is also commonly known as Mandingo.
Adding a swimming pool to your home creates a new way to enjoy your outdoor space and cool off in summer. But even the most basic permanent pools have special installation requirements. In particular, local zoning and building codes specify where you can add a pool and what type of wiring you or the installer must use to ensure safety.
While most users find stock heat sinks and fans sufficient for their CPU cooling needs, hard-core overclocking users occasionally turn to a more powerful cooling solution. Liquid-based cooling systems come in many different styles, generally falling into two categories: the presealed “closed loop” systems and the home-built “open loop” systems. Each offers some advantages, depending on your level of technical ability as well as your cooling requirements.
The most common shape for a 26-foot pool is an oval. This type of above-ground pool takes careful planning, but the basic pool assembly isn't different than any other above-ground swimming pool. One person can do the assembly, but it goes faster if you have several people helping you. Before you begin, contact your utility company to mark where any buried lines are on your property. Obtain any building permits you need before you start the pool assembly.
The concrete edging, also referred to as “coping,” around the rim of your fiberglass in-ground pool does more than just make the pool look pretty. The edging also helps your pool hold its shape and gives swimmers something to grasp when hoisting themselves in and out of the pool. Without proper care, the concrete edging will become cracked or damaged. This cracked edging can be removed, but you must be careful to avoid damaging the rest of the pool.
