Much Ado About Flip Turns | Ask The Coach

Coach Ani de Leon is a Certified Level 2 Triathlon Coach by the International Triathlon Union and has completed coaching, camp requirements and attended coaching courses such as Endurance Performance Systems Camp in Melbourne, Australia under Tony Benson, Noosa Triathlon Camp in Sunshine Coast, Australia under Nick Croft, High Performance Training Camp in Goldcoast, Australia under Col Stewart, and the Timex Multisport Team Camp, Coach Ani’s other significant highlights include : The first Filipina Ironman World Championships Qualifier and First Female Multisport Coach in the Philippines, Founder/Coach SuperTriKids Triathlon Youth Dev’t Program, Founder/ Coach of First All Womens Running Clinics (Pinay in Action) in the Philippines, Founding Member of First All Womens Cycling Team in the Philippines (Team Davids Salon), and lastly, perhaps the most important of all (for us at least!), she’s our first In[FOCUS] Athlete too!

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We got a letter from the.Cavz, who’s curious as to whether or not doing flip turns/tumbleturns in the pool is beneficial to training. So is it? Read on below and see what our SBR.ph Online Coach, Coach Ani de Leon-Brown has to say.

From the.Cavz:

hi coach!

i just want to ask what is more suitable for triathlon training as for me a beginner, which is better for me a flip turn or a open turn during doing laps in the pool? A nd what are the advantages and disadvantages of each turn?

do triathletes at a high level like the elite and pros use the open turn ?

i’ll be waiting for your reply.

thank you coach.

From Coach Ani:
Hi there!

What an interesting but practical question! To be honest, in most triathlon races this skill is not really necessary but here in the Philippines, races with pools as venues for the swim as opposed to open water are a mainstay throughout the year.

This is where I find it handy to develop this skill… in multiple lap swims in the pool for races you can quickly out-maneuver others who have to stop at the wall every single time. It is much much faster to do a tumbleturn.

I would say that most pro triathletes use tumbleturns in their swim sets as well for the same reason. If you are trying to make your time interval repetitively this is the best way to go.

Either way, I suggest that you practice your turning skills at the wall so you will always have the option to use it. It is hard in the beginning but just like most things, it becomes easier over time.