LD16 allowing wetsuits in all USMS sanctioned events

LD16 303.6.3 SWIMWEAR p. 62 OWLDC Modify 303.6.3 Wetsuits may be allowed in all USMS-sanctioned open water events, at the discretion of the meet event director. Wetsuits generally provide a competitive advantage. If awards are given to wetsuit competitors they shall be awarded separately from those for nonwetsuit competitors. Any published results or records must clearly indicate which swimmers wore wetsuits. Rationale 1: Because the OWLDC is aware that people wearing wetsuits are no longer allowed to be treated as non-participants because they represent a major area of growth to our organization. In most cases, these neoprene-clad souls would trade their eye teeth to go without but for whatever reasons they chose to look like shark bait, they want/need/can’t live without it so by allowing this new rule, they can now wear their wetsuit in our USMS races and get a prize from USMS. Also, members of the OWLDC are getting tired of extracting naked, frozen people from the bathrooms where they are attempting to warm up by splashing themselves with lukewarm water from the sink and recognize that if these folks had been offered an opportunity to wear a wetsuit in their race, they would be having a much more fun time at this USMS event than experiencing hypothermia and swearing on their mother’s grave to never swim in an open water race again. Rationale2: This rule is leading our organization down the slippery slope to The Sanitization of Open Water Swimming. We have regulated water temp, hot hats, buoys every so often, swim suits that help us float, and more devices to take the element of nature out of the events, sort of like rock climbing with an elevator, so are we “purists” now viewed as the extremists in our sport, the on the fringe element? But on the other hand at least people are swimming and staying healthy, which is a wonderful thing for our society. Rationale3: As purists spend time acclimating to less warm water temps and not spending time cycling 140 miles or running 26 at a stretch, do we get a motor on our bike? How about we start a “Buffet Event”, similar to the 300IM: Pick a few choices you want and we’ll all compete together. This could lead to the “All Gadget Olympics.”