Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-15

ing, but facts prove the contrary
There is no reason, indeed, why prac'
/ tically the same kick which free style
swimmers have held with ease over
courses of ten and more miles should
/ tire its opponents so readily when per.
formed in supine position.
Considerable discussion has taken
place in regard to the application OF
power in back crawl, thrash, some
maintaining that the legs should press
up hard and be lowered slowly, Others
that both movements should be made
vigorously. In the writer's opinion
both methods are incorrect. II we dis
sect the crawl thrssh, in fact, we find
it composed of sequency of very mar
row scissors kicks from which i'm
petus is gained in swapping the legs
together, first one and then the other
playing the leading role. as does the
under leg in the scissors kick used
with the trudgeon.
II this be admitted the logical con-
|, clusion is that the thrashing legs per-
form a positive and driving movement
i only from widest opening to when they
meet, then starting to recover In mega
tive movement of resistance until they
are sgain fully opened Obviously,
therefore. half the upward sweep Of
the under leg and half the downward
beat Of the upper should be made en-
ergetic, and the other half of both
with relaxed muscles. This, of course,
In the back crawl, for in the crawl
proper the driving movements are re-
versed.
To the average swimmer the point
may seem small and immaterial, but
it is just these small distinctions
which make all the difference in swim
ming. Unfortunately most competi-
tors will not take the trouble to ana
lyze their strokes and study them in
detail.
The back trudgeon-crawl may be per-
formed with one or two small scissors
kicks and fluttering motion of the
feet between to make the action con-
tinuous. The m9jor drives or scissors
are all that distinguish it from the
back crawl
Air should be inhaled as the arms
are carried over. the body in recovery
and exhaled while the arms are driv-
ing. This method is the very opposite
Of the one used in swimming face
down. but there are excellent reasons
for advocating 1t.
TO begin with, the movements lend
Themselves to this mode of respiration,
for In raising the arms to recover the
chest is expanded, and this facilitates
the intake, while in driving the arms
are lowered, which tends to contract
the chest and expel the air from the
lungs. Then. too, the lifting of the
arms results In slight sinking of the
body, and 1t is possible to counterfeit
1t in part by initiating the lungs and
thus incre ssing the buoyancy.
One of the most difficult problems in
back stroke swimming Is to find the
most advantageous position. If the
head is thrown back too far it not only
offers unnecessary resistance, but the
wafer will splash over the face and
interfere with ones breathing, while
II the head is held too high the body
says in the middle, and the drag is
even greater.
Practise only can tell the exact slant
to be sought, but the aim should be to
minimize as much as possible the re-
sisting surface and at the same time
ease the action of the arms. It is well
to give the matter deep consideration.
That the modern back strokes have
yet to be fully exploited is the preva-
lent opinion among experts and the
fact is not surprising, for the sport
has small following. There is rea.
son to believe, however. that as the
back crawl and trudgeon-craMl be-
come better known the present rec
ords will be smashed to pieces and
very fast times made.
Alre ady Harry Hebner of the Illinois
Athletic club OF Chicago has upset all (;
notions by covering leo
yards in minute 2-5 seconds and
showing ability to lower the classic |
worlds figures almost at will. This /
he has done without special training |
and while competing in free style |
events OF all kinds, so that there can /
be no doubt of the great possibilities |
OF the stroke he uses the back trudg-
In swimming the middle and long I
distances on the back some excellent |
performances have been made. G. III. i
Webster Of Halifax, the English cham
pion, is credited with swimming a mile /
IN rs minutes IS seconds. about a min
ute behind the American free style
record, and In the fiye-mile champion
ship Of the Thames he finished fifth I
N q field Of so. This indicates that
the back strokes ere not as slow as
generally supposed.
Il