Fundamental skills like body surfing and eggbeatering (treading water) are not absolutely essential to the success of open water swimmers, but mastering these skills can be helpful when going through heavy surf in an ocean race or stopping for a feeding break on a marathon swim.

Eggbeater is a term used to describe effective treading in the water where the swimmer remains vertical with the face and upper shoulders out of the water.

Used by water polo players, synchronized swimmers, and lifeguards, open water swimmers can utilize the eggbeater kick to keep their mouths free from taking in sea water and talking effortlessly to their crew as they face away from the oncoming waves.

At 6:38 in the video below of Ned Denison‘s Catalina Channel crossing, you can see the former water polo goalie eggbeatering like the All-American athlete he once was. His knees are bent at the proper angle with the soles of his feet pressing the water downward as he alternates each leg in a counterclockwise direction. With proper form, his eggbeater allows him to effortlessly talk and drink during his feeding stop.

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