Anyone going to start practicing in a in the big rubberband?
Former Member
Anyone out there going to start doing some pool practices in a wetsuit due to the new "proposed" rule change of allowing wetsuits in USMS open water swims? :frustrated:
The thought of practicing in a pool in a wetsuit absolutely makes me want to barf; however, I don't want to be penalized (and I've not yet learned to swim in one of these rubber bands) if this rule change goes through for next year.
Any thoughts on how to deal with the ridicule in practice?
The way things are going, I guess I had better learn to swim with fins as well. . .
Maybe with the approval of wetsuits and fins, the powers that be will approve swimming with paddles and buoys - then I'm in! :party2:
I'm thinking that if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. :doh::doh::sad:
Anyone out there going to start doing some pool practices in a wetsuit due to the new "proposed" rule change of allowing wetsuits in USMS open water swims? :frustrated:
Kristina,
This thread probably belongs in the OW Forum, but:
The rule hasn't been voted in and is not the radical change that it has been presented as. Wetsuits are already allowed in all USMS OW competition except national championships. In such races, there is a separate wetsuit category that is populated by slower swimmers. All the proposal does is allow the same thing to happen at national championships, at the discretion of the race director. The race director can also decide to start the wetsuit-cladd swimmers in a separate wave (this is true at any race).
Personally, I don't believe I will ever wear a wetsuit in a competition unless the water is too cold for me to swim in briefs. The only other possible exception I can think of is the Chesapeake Bay swim, since almost everyone wears them.
IMO, the greater change is allowing the FINA approved wetsuit lookalikes like the Xterra Velocity. I think race directors may have their hand full distinguishing between them and "real" wetsuits.
www.xterrawetsuits.com/velocity.html
By the way, if you don't like the proposal, you should show up at next year's convention and speak out against it. Even if you aren't a delegate, you still have a voice...and the convention is in your backyard (Atlanta)...
And I'm curious: could you explain to me why you have no problem with technical suits like the FSPro (and presumably the LZR) but react so strongly against wetsuits?
Anyone out there going to start doing some pool practices in a wetsuit due to the new "proposed" rule change of allowing wetsuits in USMS open water swims? :frustrated:
Kristina,
This thread probably belongs in the OW Forum, but:
The rule hasn't been voted in and is not the radical change that it has been presented as. Wetsuits are already allowed in all USMS OW competition except national championships. In such races, there is a separate wetsuit category that is populated by slower swimmers. All the proposal does is allow the same thing to happen at national championships, at the discretion of the race director. The race director can also decide to start the wetsuit-cladd swimmers in a separate wave (this is true at any race).
Personally, I don't believe I will ever wear a wetsuit in a competition unless the water is too cold for me to swim in briefs. The only other possible exception I can think of is the Chesapeake Bay swim, since almost everyone wears them.
IMO, the greater change is allowing the FINA approved wetsuit lookalikes like the Xterra Velocity. I think race directors may have their hand full distinguishing between them and "real" wetsuits.
www.xterrawetsuits.com/velocity.html
By the way, if you don't like the proposal, you should show up at next year's convention and speak out against it. Even if you aren't a delegate, you still have a voice...and the convention is in your backyard (Atlanta)...
And I'm curious: could you explain to me why you have no problem with technical suits like the FSPro (and presumably the LZR) but react so strongly against wetsuits?
