I went to the Como Zoo in St. Paul this past weekend with my family. One of the polar bears was doing laps in his pool:
(If you can’t view the video above, see it directly on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MCyEcnav9s.)
This polar bear would wind-up a few times, flop on his back, shoot through the water, take a quick breath, execute a near-perfect flip-turn, and start all over again.
I think these are his secrets to his success in the water:
1. He’s super hairy.
2. He spends countless hours in the pool.
3. He’s trapped in a tiny, depressing space he can’t escape.
So, I figure, if I change my routine to match this, I’ll be super speedy in the pool in no time. Here’s my take on those 3 things listed above:
1. Done.
2. OK, so that’s not really going to happen for me.
3. Come on, we all feel like that sometimes.
That's cute!!
ReplyDeleteThe polar bear is my new swim hero :)
Congrats on your Indoor Tri results!
maybe you should see if he would mind having a swimming buddy! ;)
ReplyDeleteNot really that hairy,will spend more time in the pool once the weather heats up,& I feel trapped ALL the time!..;-)
ReplyDeletei can only do flipturns in the pool at my gym. at masters? i forget how. what is that all about?
ReplyDeleteCool video. I agree with your secrets to his success. Must be nice to have all that free time!! LOL!!
ReplyDeleteLove it!! I think if everyone did #2 we'd all be flipping well ;-)
ReplyDeleteHe eats a lot of fish, too. Maybe that helps.
ReplyDeleteLove the video! Just thing he does not even wax. you could save yourself all of that pain!! LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteImagine how his speed would improve if he shaved!
ReplyDeleteI only do the reverse "man-hood" exposing flip turns when the hot chicks walk past my lane on the pool deck.
ReplyDeleteIt really lets them observe my "technique"
fun to see you today!
ReplyDeleteI think you should post on using a therapy ball. I bet you could do some really acrobatic moves on that. Dang, that floor is dirty. Wash your hands when you are done.
Julia
do you think he counts laps??????
ReplyDelete34....35....36....crap...was that 35....36.....37.....crap
That's why my flip-turns sucked today. I shaved the night before. Damn....
ReplyDeleteLove the triguyjt comment. Though I lose count on 5, the heck with 34.
I can do flip turns just fine but the counting? I can get lost at between 2 and 3
ReplyDeleteToo funny.
ReplyDeleteTag... you're it. :)
How stinking cute is he?? What's the deal with these flip turns anyways?? I mean is it really ALL that important?! :)
ReplyDeleteBet that bear would be faster if he had a sweet tri wetsuit!
ReplyDeleteYou are neglecting their inherent freedom. Imagine how carefree you would be if you could poo wherever you wanted? And someone else would come shovel it up and toss you some more steak? I'd be doing flips too!
ReplyDeleteThat's a cute video! I can't even do the flipturns. I think I tried once, and it was a disaster. I'll stick with the stop, turn around, push-off pool wall.
ReplyDeleteHe is WAY more hairy than you are.
ReplyDeleteWord! I can't flip to save my life. I'm there with ya.
ReplyDeleteAwesome video!
you may also have to gain a little weight to match him...j/k
ReplyDeleteHe's been doing that for years. It is entertaining.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's the poop and pee that help in the small space. That on fish carcases. Plus he's doing back flips which are super difficult. Imagine if that polar bear was in shape what he could do.
ReplyDeletecute, but man, zoos just bum me out...
ReplyDeletei've swam since i was a kid, swim team even, and still can't get the flip down. i just tap the wall, dunk under and turn around. i think it's as fast as any flip turn i could pull off.