Review - Using the GoPro Camera for Triathletes

Below is a guest post by ZenTri friend and Coach Matthew Bates.  Thanks, Matty B!

I'm sure we have all seen the crazy videos out there filmed with the GoPro cameras. This review will focus mainly on the uses for the modern triathlete and not for crazy hair-bending stunts.

One of the first pieces of advice I was given on filming with the GoPro is that if you aren't doing something amazingly cool, then it will look amazingly boring when you watch it back home. I found this to be supremely true and even more for long distance triathlon. A five minute long video of someone biking down a straight road just isn't very thrilling, especially only going 20 mph. I have found some very good uses for the GoPro for the triathlete, especially the for someone looking for solid video analysis of form swimming, biking and especially running. Below I have included three videos from clips of Coach Brett and I during recent triathlon excursions and what went well and what the video can be used for!

Swim

As you can see with swimming, there were a few angles that worked great and a few that did not at all. The angles from the bottom of the pool were done with a small tripod and while they can be okay sped up, these are no very trilling. The fully waterproof enclosure really shines in the water and the video looks very sharp. The best use for the triathlete is to have a buddy film you swim by. Usually video in filmed in 30 frames per second. The GoPro allows you to film in 60fps, so you can break down your form and really see what is going on.

Bike

I attached the camera to my front aero bars with the bike clamp and shot video straight on and to the side. The hardest part about this was not truly being able to use my aerobars with my left arm for some of these long rides. This is probably the least effective way to use the GoPro, there isn't much form to analyze, the video is pretty boring and alot of the shots are distorted. The worst is the shot of Brett from the back where the sky is extremely trippy. On top of all this, the audio is completely un-usable.

Run

Filming while running is one of the hardest things to do smoothly and the video above has been edited for stabilization. The audio was a bit better as i put on the open back for better sound recording. The best way to use the GoPro running is to set it up on a tripod and film yourself on a treadmill analyzing run form. The video above is admittedly not bright enough and I should have use more lighting. I used it to film myself in about 6 different pairs of running shoes and analyze my from and how the shoes changes my form. The is, in my opinion the best way to use the GoPro.

Summary

In summary the GoPro is a great tool and can be decent to capture images of your next fun swim, bike or run, just make sure it is something fun and that you don't really need great audio. The best uses for me was analyzing swim and run form through slowmotion capture. Overall a very fun, slightly expensive toy, but much less expensive than the cost of going to a professional coaching studio to have an analysis, just be ready to do the leg work yourself.

Update: The GoPro I am using has been recently replace by the GoPro Hero2, the updates include better still shot more video angles and easier to use. The biggest advancement for me is now being able to shoot in 120fps, which would give even more refined form analysis. It can also take some newer cooler accessories.

Coach Matty B's Ranking of Approval (CMBRA)

Performance 5/5

Ease of use 4/5

Value 3/5

Overall 4/5

Cost $299 (Outdoor package, accessories extra)

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