Columbia Beach Swim

[raider38]

I'm a new card carrying member to the Cleveland Tri Club and this is my first post! But I have a question about swimming at Columbia Road Beach. I have never been there before and not really sure where to go to start my swim, what direction to swim in, and are there any days in particular that are really good/bad to go out and get a swim. Can anyone tell me what to do?

Also, I don't have a wetsuit just yet. I am working on building up everything I need to race but I was wondering if people go out in their tri suits for a swim or just their trunks/shorts? I am planning on going out tomorrow night and getting in a swim.

Any help would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

[marie]

Welcome to the club!

First of all, I would highly recommend that your first OWS should be with a group or at least with someone else who is an experienced open water swimmer. I would highly recommend that no one goes out in the lake solo even if they are an experienced swimmer. If you are not in a rush to get in open water, Tuesday nights are a great opportunity to swim open water in a group. There are also Thursday morning swims if you can make it in the morning.

With that said, some people wear wetsuits, some don't. It depends for what you are training.

If you take Columbia all the way until it dead ends into Lake, there is a little parking lot at the corner. That is where people park. There is a little look out, a sidewalk, and a staircase down to the beach. We try to stay in the little cove there. There is a dock on the left and a house on the right that we kind of swim in between, back and forth.

[raider38]

marie

Thank you for your insight that is very helpful. I might have to take you up on the Tuesday night swim it would be nice to be around people who know what they're doing.

[marie]

No problem! There are some very experienced people that swim on Tuesday nights who are more than willing to help a newbie!

[gregtri]

Is this taking place tonight or is the season over?