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.”
Parents
Former Member
I'm more comfortable racing in a tech suit.
I have read no argument explaining why wetsuits should be banned if there are separate divisions. I've only seen the purist view that nature MUST be experienced. Why? Let people race the way they want.
And if B70 wetsuits are approved, why is it "all over?" Still in a separate division from the purists.
this proposed rule applies to usms events only.
many open water events are not usms sanctioned events. others offer non-usms waves, wetsuit waves, non-competitive swims, even costume waves, so there is a general desire to include as many participants in ow events as possible.
if usms requires all event directors to provide a separate division for wetsuits, i believe that many directors will simply find another insurance provider and forego the usms sanction. i have never been to an open water event (usms or otherwise) where anyone was told they could not swim with a wetsuit. (and i could name at least 150)
hell, i don't care if someone wants to swim with fins and paddles, but i would oppose a separate division. imagine on race day looking over the field and saying hmmm there are some pretty fast folks in the wetsuit division, but the fin and paddle field is a little thin...i guess its zoomer time! podium, here i come.
I'm more comfortable racing in a tech suit.
I have read no argument explaining why wetsuits should be banned if there are separate divisions. I've only seen the purist view that nature MUST be experienced. Why? Let people race the way they want.
And if B70 wetsuits are approved, why is it "all over?" Still in a separate division from the purists.
this proposed rule applies to usms events only.
many open water events are not usms sanctioned events. others offer non-usms waves, wetsuit waves, non-competitive swims, even costume waves, so there is a general desire to include as many participants in ow events as possible.
if usms requires all event directors to provide a separate division for wetsuits, i believe that many directors will simply find another insurance provider and forego the usms sanction. i have never been to an open water event (usms or otherwise) where anyone was told they could not swim with a wetsuit. (and i could name at least 150)
hell, i don't care if someone wants to swim with fins and paddles, but i would oppose a separate division. imagine on race day looking over the field and saying hmmm there are some pretty fast folks in the wetsuit division, but the fin and paddle field is a little thin...i guess its zoomer time! podium, here i come.
