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
btw, i'm not yelling
I think most "OW purists" would disagree with you. If they allowed wetsuits but not in a separate division, then OW champs risk becoming like the Chesapeake Bay swim, where the majority where wetsuits. Even those who dislike them might feel compelled to wear them to be competitive. I bet such a proposal would have a hard time passing. I prefer the Big Shoulders model, myself.
as i have stated: i have never been to an event where wetsuits were not allowed except for a couple that function by channel rules.
Your prediction about what event directors would do sounds bizarre to me. The only thing the proposal requires is that, IF awards are given to wetsuit-wearers, it shall be in a separate category. my response was to the poll answer #1 awards to all divisions
Why would this affect insurance or the decision to seek USMS sanction? many ow event organizers do not seek usms sanctions now. this would do nothing to encourage them to do so in the future.
Sorry to repeat myself...all of this is allowed RIGHT NOW at all OW meets except national championships. All the proposal does is erase that distinction. I fail to see how the world will stop rotating on its axis as a result.
One may then argue, of course, that the proposal won't do much because its scope is fairly limited. I agree that, alone, it won't have much effect. It has to be accompanied by an effort to actually invite a broader community to OW races.i think if one wants to seriously promote open water swimming, one should also have a "supply side" effort....organized training IN open water, rather than just make the competition end cozier.
For me, ultimately, it depends on what we want USMS to be. I have always viewed us as promoting (competitive) swimming to people of a broad range of abilities and background. I think this proposal furthers that goal and is in line with the Rob Butcher's "Vision and Action Plan."
i agree that event organizers should (and for the most part do) promote openwater swimming to more than the competitive, and the proposal that allows usas swimmers to be on the course at the same time as usms is a good one. the addition of non-usms waves is becoming more popular as well. it takes a lot to put on an ow event and it just makes sense to offer as many people the chance to swim the course as possible.
btw, i'm not yelling
I think most "OW purists" would disagree with you. If they allowed wetsuits but not in a separate division, then OW champs risk becoming like the Chesapeake Bay swim, where the majority where wetsuits. Even those who dislike them might feel compelled to wear them to be competitive. I bet such a proposal would have a hard time passing. I prefer the Big Shoulders model, myself.
as i have stated: i have never been to an event where wetsuits were not allowed except for a couple that function by channel rules.
Your prediction about what event directors would do sounds bizarre to me. The only thing the proposal requires is that, IF awards are given to wetsuit-wearers, it shall be in a separate category. my response was to the poll answer #1 awards to all divisions
Why would this affect insurance or the decision to seek USMS sanction? many ow event organizers do not seek usms sanctions now. this would do nothing to encourage them to do so in the future.
Sorry to repeat myself...all of this is allowed RIGHT NOW at all OW meets except national championships. All the proposal does is erase that distinction. I fail to see how the world will stop rotating on its axis as a result.
One may then argue, of course, that the proposal won't do much because its scope is fairly limited. I agree that, alone, it won't have much effect. It has to be accompanied by an effort to actually invite a broader community to OW races.i think if one wants to seriously promote open water swimming, one should also have a "supply side" effort....organized training IN open water, rather than just make the competition end cozier.
For me, ultimately, it depends on what we want USMS to be. I have always viewed us as promoting (competitive) swimming to people of a broad range of abilities and background. I think this proposal furthers that goal and is in line with the Rob Butcher's "Vision and Action Plan."
i agree that event organizers should (and for the most part do) promote openwater swimming to more than the competitive, and the proposal that allows usas swimmers to be on the course at the same time as usms is a good one. the addition of non-usms waves is becoming more popular as well. it takes a lot to put on an ow event and it just makes sense to offer as many people the chance to swim the course as possible.
