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
its not a defense.
pool racing at every level is now a gear sport. open water is at a crossroad, blue seventy has now gotten fina approval for some of their wetsuits. once the pros start wearing them, its all over.
the olympic 10k was held in a rowing basin (not what i would call open water).
i understand the need to make it friendly for spectators etc, but take away the waves, wind, current, jellies, exposure???? why not just cover it over so we don't get the sun in our eyes and remove any offensive flora and fauna and chlorinate it and put lines on the bottom to follow and..............(see paragraph 1)
Is open water swimming really about being forced to experience extreme tempertures or jellyfish stings? It seems like it would be more about swimming performance under waves/wind/current. Most OW events seem to be scheduled during the summer, so I can hardly imagine that temperature was supposed to be a factor for OW events. I haven't yet competed OW, so I am less experienced here, you tell me.
Eventually you have to decide what is reasonable and what is not. If wetsuits are taking the "nature" out of the event, then why allow goggles or any swimsuit at all? Ultimately there is some rational level of comfort afforded to competitors so they can focus on the the point of the competition. If temperature and possible jellyfish stings are a distinct part of OW swimming, then I say no wetsuits, if however OW events are not defined as overcoming those elements, then who cares, focus on the event, not the circumstances.
its not a defense.
pool racing at every level is now a gear sport. open water is at a crossroad, blue seventy has now gotten fina approval for some of their wetsuits. once the pros start wearing them, its all over.
the olympic 10k was held in a rowing basin (not what i would call open water).
i understand the need to make it friendly for spectators etc, but take away the waves, wind, current, jellies, exposure???? why not just cover it over so we don't get the sun in our eyes and remove any offensive flora and fauna and chlorinate it and put lines on the bottom to follow and..............(see paragraph 1)
Is open water swimming really about being forced to experience extreme tempertures or jellyfish stings? It seems like it would be more about swimming performance under waves/wind/current. Most OW events seem to be scheduled during the summer, so I can hardly imagine that temperature was supposed to be a factor for OW events. I haven't yet competed OW, so I am less experienced here, you tell me.
Eventually you have to decide what is reasonable and what is not. If wetsuits are taking the "nature" out of the event, then why allow goggles or any swimsuit at all? Ultimately there is some rational level of comfort afforded to competitors so they can focus on the the point of the competition. If temperature and possible jellyfish stings are a distinct part of OW swimming, then I say no wetsuits, if however OW events are not defined as overcoming those elements, then who cares, focus on the event, not the circumstances.
