Video answers to your most frequently asked questions

Can the Vasa Trainer or Vasa Ergometer be used for training all 4 strokes? YES! Training with Vasa is not just for freestyle! The high elbow catch (or early vertical forearm) setup for proper technique is the same for butterfly, freestyle, breaststroke and even backstroke. The front part of the stroke is the same basic movement (same aspect of power). Training and practicing high elbow catch on the Vasa will help you transfer the proper technique to a high elbow catch in the water, which will result in faster swimming, more power and less chance of injury.

Q: "My life circumstances makes it difficult to get to the pool. How will using the Vasa Ergometer help me swim better and faster?�

Triathlon and Age Group swim coach Al Lyman and Triathlon USAT Elite Level Coach Tim Crowley talk about how the Vasa Ergometer is an excellent substitute for pool swimming. Whether you are training for triathlons, a master swimmer, an age group swimmer, or a swim coach, the Vasa Ergometer is an excellent tool for swimming fitness, swimming strength, and increasing swimming power.

Q: How do I practice proper rotation while training on a Vasa Ergometer?

A lot of swimmers have way too much rotation in their stroke. Rotation and roll are different. When you roll, you aren't really lengthening your body, you are actually just twisting it. Too much roll will make you twist and turn and loose forward momentum in the water. Rotation comes from your hips and core, and a shift in your shoulder. It's more of an extension or a reach. When you are on the Vasa, you are keeping a flat scapular plane, and shifting or rotating forward with your arms. You can get that desired rotation from the hips and core, without adding too much shoulder roll. This will help you activate the right muscles for the maximum range of motion and power in your stroke.

Q: Training on a Vasa is not the same as swimming... will it really help me?

Triathlon and Age Group swim coach Al Lyman talks about the Vasa Ergometer as a swimming simulator. In any aspect of training, whether it be swim, bike or run or any other sport, you are always using supplement tools that mimic the activity. From a Triathlete's perspective, what Al really loves about the Ergometer is that you are focusing on building power in the front end of the stroke, which is exactly what you need in a triathlon, especially in an open water environment. There is a lot of objective data that you can't get in a pool, measuring power, stroke rate. It's another way to enhance your swimming and your strength & power, that is dramatically different than in the pool. Because you aren't in the pool, that's what gives the Vasa Ergometer the power to be an effective tool.

Q: Is it safe for children to use a Vasa?

We are often asked if it's safe for children or age-group swimmers to train on Vasa... and the answer is absolutely YES. If you children are old enough to be on a swim team, if they are taught proper technique, there is no reason why they can't train on a Vasa Trainer or Vasa Ergometer. When they focusing on the key technique points, the stretch, catch & pull, they are ingraining the outline for really proper technique that they can take to the pool and translate into faster swimming. The Vasa can help them to become more self-aware of what they are doing. You can isolate the moves that we are trying to ingrain in their stroke patterns when they are young. So focusing on the catch, stretch & pull when they are dry, warm and on-land, is going to be great if they can practice this on the Vasa then put them into the pool and see if they can translate that into the water. It's a highly effective tool for teaching technique to age-group swimmers.

Q: Are stretch cords or tubing as effective as a Vasa Trainer or Vasa Ergometer?

Stretch cords are good for a variety of exercises for Prehab, rehab, and for training the front end of the freestyle stroke. However, the Vasa Ergometer offers so much more than stretch cords or tubing.

First, you can get objective data. In fact, there is no other way you can truly learn what your power is when you are swimming. It can't be measured in the water, and it certainly can't be measured with tubing. With the monitor and the ability to measure watts or R&L arm force production, you can truly see how strong and powerful you are. Second, there is variable resistance - 7 different door settings - air resistance that feels a lot like water. Third, you can do very similar workouts than you can do in a pool... 500-600 meters or up to 3000-4000 or more if you are training for long course racing in triathlon or if you are an open water swimmer. So the options are endless with the different ways you can train with the Ergometer, stretch cords have just a few exercises. In fact, in the 5 years I've had my Ergometer, I continue to learn new ways that it can enhance your training time, your training effectiveness and training efficiency. So unequivocally, this is so much more valuable and it does well beyond what you can do with tubing or stretch cords.

Q: "How will swim training on the Vasa Ergometer effectively supplement or substitute for swimming in the pool or open water?"

World Masters Swimmer of the Year, Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen talks about using the Vasa Ergometer as a substitute for the pool. "When time and logistics make it difficult to get to the pool, you can use the Vasa Ergometer as a substitute for time in the water. The reason the Ergometer is an excellent substitute is because the Erg allows you to train with the same stroke-specific mechanics that you would use in the pool. While it's not exactly the same as swimming in the pool or open water, it's a pretty good facsimile. As long as you maintain the 5 key focus points of proper technique, work on really good form, and maintain a high early vertical forearm, you will be able to transfer that power, endurance and speed into the pool.