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.”
Former Member
I would be in favor of Early Bloomer and Late Bloomer divisions also. Or Low VO2Max and High VO2Max divisions.
Sure, providing organized OW practices is a nice thing to do. But the local Richmond triathletes do significantly more OW training than I do, with organized river swims every two weeks (I trained exactly once in the river this summer, though I swam in 3 OW races).
Yet they still prefer wear their wetsuits in OW races. Why wouldn't they? That's how they race in triathlons, after all. Sure some of them are weak swimmers but most would do just fine without wetsuits, they just prefer to wear them and don't really care what any OW purist thinks about it.
Do most OW swimmers do organized in water swims? I'm not an expert, but the OW swimmers and tris on my team don't seem to. Hmmm ... and, I seem to recall, one of the last winners of the Reston Lake Swim (2007?) was who? An ultra elite breaststroker ... And 2d place was ... a 400 IM All American ... no water time.
Tris don't give a toss about what purists think. And why should they?
As I said before, making wetsuit swimmers "ineligible" for awards just puts them in lower class stature. Why exactly do we need to do that? And doesn't allowing awards for a wetsuit division at Nats probably increase participation? If there are two separate divisions, why is that a problem exactly? 100 swimmers ... 50 per race .. big deal? ... Or more in the wetsuit division? ... No big deal ... purists have their unsullied victory ...
another observation.... many folks wear wetsuits to increase their comfort level; no one would claim that squeezing into a fastskin or eq. would make them more comfortable.
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.
I agree that the bay swim could use some trimming of the fat around the awards. To ease the pain, they can rattle off names and times, and hold applause to the end of each age group.
Also, I find it odd that Fort, sworn to never do OW, is weighing in on this.
Also, I find it odd that Fort, sworn to never do OW, is weighing in on this.
Trying to shut me up, eh? I've enjoyed some OW swims, just no competitions. Swimmers who spurn tech suits weigh in on those threads, so I see no reason not to comment here. Plus, I find it elitist and anti-inclusive to continually rag on wetsuit swimmers.
Dave: Insurance goes up with 2 waves instead of one? If so, then have them all go off at once and score them separately. I was under the impression from prior posts that the wetsuit swimmers outnumbered the purists anyway.
I have. Yet they still prefer wear their wetsuits in OW races. Why wouldn't they? That's how they race in triathlons, after all. Sure some of them are weak swimmers but most would do just fine without wetsuits, they just prefer to wear them and don't really care what any OW purist thinks about it.
they would probably also prefer to wear their wetsuits in the pool. why wouldn't they? and if a LZR is a 2% advantage and a wetsuit is a 5% advantage (your words, chris) that shouldn't be a big deal if it encourages more folks to participate. i'm sure meet manager could separate the results.
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've never done an OW race without one. I think the warmest in any of my events was 68-70 or so. I like the safety margin of extra flotation from the wetsuit, just in case something did happen like getting knocked unconscious by an elbow or kick to the head.
One thing is for sure, people will never stop arguing about it.
Also, I find it odd that Fort, sworn to never do OW, is weighing in on this.
Proof that even when a "good girl" hangs out with open water swimmers, she can be turned to the dark side. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
-LBJ
