Brian Barndt's Blog

Welcome to my TI blog. After being trained by Terry Laughlin, I have been developing TI in North Carolina, with my base location in the Raleigh/Wake Forest area. I offer private, semi-private and clinics in a variety of local facilities.

I swam competitively from age seven through my second year in college, using traditional methods. I was limited to being a lap swimmer from 1990 - 2004, due to suffering congestive heart failure and being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. For eight months prior to a life-saving heart transplant in July 2005, I could not swim one length of the pool!

After receiving new life through my transplant, I returned to competition in transplant athletics. I have won seven gold medals at the 2006 and 2008 U.S. Transplant Games, as a member of Team NC. At the 2009 World Transplant Games in Australia, I won 3 silvers and 1 bronze medal.

Outside of the transplant arena, I particpate in triathlon relays, Masters and open water swimming. TI & my transplant have made swimming my greatest passion!

TI has enabled me to swim efficiently and gracefully, obtaining endurance and speed I once thought unattainable. I am grateful to be alive, and passionate about teaching and training others to reach their athletic goals.

Coach Blogs

Triathlon Training Camp/Open Water Swimming NC by Brian Barndt

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A great opportunity to work on your TI technique in open water, as well as prepare for your triathlon events in 2011!  Please visit the link below for more information and registration.  Contact TI coach Brian Barndt at bbarndt@gmail.com or 919-710-3413 with any questions.

http://fsseries.com/index.php?action=event&event_id=373

Triathlon History to be made in November by Brian Barndt

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This November a triathlon relay composed of 3 heart transplant recipient, will compete in the PPD Beach2Battleship in Wilmington, NC.  Myself, Kyle Garlett & Mark Black, are training to complete the Full IM distance event, displaying the success of organ transplantation and inspiring others to attain "unreachable" goals. 

Our relay will be featured by the title sponsor, PPD, and is called "The

TV interview about TI & fitness swimming by Brian Barndt

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Here is a nice interview about how efficiency through TI paves the way for the best fitness swimming experience!

http://www.mycarolinatoday.com/2010/06/swimming-for-exercise-the-right-way/

Never Settle for Poor Swimming by Brian Barndt

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Below is an email from a recent participant in a TI workshop, who had practically given up on swimming well.  Enjoy! 

___________________________ 

This is Chuck Holder from the workshop May 29 and 30. I swam yesterday for the first time since the workshop and am excited about the improvements. I have been drilling and working on technique a bit since the class, but no actual swimming until

Reflections from Alcatraz by Brian Barndt

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Wow, what an experience. I am still absorbing the reality that I swam in the Escape from Alcatraz! It was the most challenging swim I've completed to date, even borders on an "extreme" swim. It is rewarding to be the first heart transplant recipient to swim the Escape. Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible!

Here are some thoughts post-escape:

1. Wetsuits have limited benefits

Yes, I wore a

Preparing to Escape from Alcatraz by Brian Barndt

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As some of you know, I am swimming in a triathon relay in the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco, www.escapefromalcatraztriathlon.com. This is a 1.5 mile swim in mid-50s water, w/ a good chance of some chop, as well. Two-time heart recipient, Bill Wohl, offered me the privilege of leading off World Transplant Team #1. Bill, along w/ Ray Velasco, played a key role in my joining Team

Charlotte, NC, EF Clinic by Brian Barndt

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Greetings TI enthusiasts!
 
This entry is to announce a new Easy Freestyle Clinic that will be offered in Charlotte on Sat, May 1, 12:30-4:30pm, at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center.  Registration will begin soon, and can be done on the FS Series site, www.fsseries.com.  I will also be available for private lessons on Sunday from 1-4pm.  
 
The EF Clinics have been going very well.  Two EF: Advanced

Switch drills on Youtube by Brian Barndt

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Here is the link for a clip of underswitch and overswitch drills (also called spearswitch and zipperswitch) from an Easy Freestyle Clinic in Charlotte, NC.  The start of each sequence is the skate position, which is the ideal balance position on my horizontal axis for freestyle.  My arms then move to position, pause, and drive to their target.  The propulsion forward is generated fom my hip

Charlotte, NC, swims Easy Freestyle by Brian Barndt

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The first Easy Freestyle clinic in Charlotte, NC, will happen this Saturday, Jan. 9th, from 12:30-4:30pm.  We are using the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, located in dowtown Charlotte.  There is one spot remaining, so go to www.fsseries.com, if you want to register! 

If you are unable to attend this clinic, but would be interested in future TI classes in the Charlotte area, please email me at

TI helps save a life! by Brian Barndt

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Following is a marvelous testimony to the impact TI swimming has on someone's life, in an entirely unexpected way...
__________

Hi,

I haven't been swimming since I went to the Caribbean in early Dec. and plan to start again today...but here is a great swimming lesson story.
 
In St. Thomas I was snorkeling and my sister was blobbing in the water floating on a "noodle" (she carries them in her suit

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