Triathlon Freestyle Simplified, co-written by 2018 USAT Long Course Duathlon National Champion and Ironman certified coach Conrad Goeringer and Rob Sleamaker, sports physiologist, coach, author, and the founder of Vasa, Inc., the company behind the Vasa Trainer and Vasa Swim Erg, is an amazing comprehensive overview of not just what to do in and out of the water, but WHY. Far from being just another “cookbook” of swimming workouts and vague technique advice, Triathlon Freestyle Simplified dissects the stroke into its core components, acknowledges the spectrum of abilities involved, and examines critical differences between pool swimming versus Open Water Swimming. Most importantly, the authors explain in simple, direct discourse how anybody can improve their performance, with appropriate guidance for those who’s conditioning may not be optimal.

Whether you’re a novice swimmer or an experienced elite, one of the greatest revelations many triathletes may discover is how they can improve both their swimming technique and power without ever getting into the pool! This book shows how an intelligently applied program utilizing the Vasa Swim Ergometer and/or Vasa Swim Trainer can help even the busiest of triathletes pack in valuable training time efficiently.

Beginning with a vivid presentation of two similar triathletes who have very different swimming abilities levels, the book commences by contrasting athlete’s various experience levels and limitations. Using real world examples of both strength and conditioning as well as training time availability, the authors intelligently break down the limiters, put them into proper perspective and offer sensible avenues to maximizing one’s training, often by leveraging alternative strategies. Frequent brief “side bar” commentary by some of the best athletes and coaches in the sport help provide lucid case studies which anchor the importance of the issue(s) being discussed.

The ability of the authors to keep what is for many a deeply mysterious process - how to move through the water with sustainable power and speed - straightforward and engaging is what really makes this book shine. I often had trouble getting through a paragraph because the concepts being put forth were so well animated that my mind took flight as I began imagining the various ways I could incorporate their ideas into my own swimming and coaching! This book will become mandatory reading for anyone who is serious about improving their performance in the water, whether it’s a weekend warrior at their local spring triathlons, or elite age groupers or even pros looking to dominate at the big races.