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.”
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.
Now you're catching on, glad you're on board! (Alas, too bad meet managers DON'T separate the results from LZRs and the like...)
the wetsuit swim did not feel like swimming to me. i am not a purist by any means, but the wetsuit felt more like a body kayak than a swim suit. I enjoyed it, and it definitely made the swim much easier, but I felt more like I was paddlng a craft than swimming
I don't like the feeling either, at all. Plus I hate the chaffing/burns you can get with wetsuits. I'm going to enter the Chesapeake Bay swim raffle and if I get in and the water temp is at all reasonable, I'm going to do it sans wetsuit since I wouldn't enjoy it as much otherwise. Well, as much as one can enjoy such things. (I also don't enjoy freezing...possibly I'll wear my B70 Nero if the temp is low.)
But that's my choice, I'm not going to presume to make others' choices for them. I honestly would prefer swimming in the race as it is now then against the 8 other people who would do it if wetsuits were banned.
For me, swimming with the full body tech suits feel MUCH closer to swimming with a wetsuit than the way God intended swimming to be. Again not seeing the distinction. :)
...the triathlete just made his way through the water faster than me, and that's all that truly counts.
That's all that counts?
I would like to get rid of this purist notion. I just don't like wetsuits, has nothing to do with purity. People like to say they are purists to make themselves sound like they know how the sport was intended. To me, it just makes you sound snobby. I like when others wear wetsuits so I can crow even more after beating them.
The only reason to allow wetsuits in an open water is to have more people swimming at the event. If this helps keep open water events going than that is great. I will not be swimming in an wetsuit.
Once while putting on my cap before getting in a gravel pond to swim here in Colorado. I joked with the people with wetsuits that the water was too warm for it. The temp of the water was 58 degrees. The then joked back why was I putting on a cap. My answer was so they could find the body.
It got real quiet from those with the wetsuits on. I jumped in and went for an hour. So, getting one use to swimming in cold water can be done, you just have to want to do it.
I don't want that! I want my superiority not just acknowledged but celerated. As Conan once put it, I want to hear der lamentations of that muscular specimen's vomen!
I say face the cold, face the fear of drowning, face the potential of a school of snappers biting off your toes, and swim on. Do not insulate yourself in a body shaped boat, take heart in your unsinkableness, have confidence that denizens don't like the taste of neoprene, and paddle on.
And that explains my vote, which I trust all thoughtful readers will now unanimously conclude is the correct one, and join me in saying to all ineptly-swimming triathletes everywhere: I'm Spartacus!
So this is what happens when one passes from a middle age crisis into dotage? :eek:
Chris, no religious comments please! (And the tech suits that most wear -- FS I, FS II, Pros -- are not remotely like wetsuits.)
Dave, Randy Nutt's races have a fin division. :P
What would we ban next? Would my BMI (beer mountain aka my personal floation device) be considered an unfair although unstreamlined advantage if I can haul it through the water and avoid hypothermia better in cold swim than my single digit body fat competitors?
the "purist notion" (at least on this thread) is tossed around more as an accusation.
That's definitely correct and it seems the purist thing is often used arbitrarily.
What's up with all your posts lately? It was better when you'd just show up, toss a few grenades and back off for a few weeks. Now, we have to continuously watch out for the chaotic landmines you leave scattered about.
I would like to get rid of this purist notion. I just don't like wetsuits, has nothing to do with purity. People like to say they are purists to make themselves sound like they know how the sport was intended. To me, it just makes you sound snobby. I like when others wear wetsuits so I can crow even more after beating them.
I agree. I personally don't like wetsuits but don't mind others wearing them. I'm as competitive as the next guy, but honestly view OW events more as training or a diversion, rather than "serious" swimming.
Please forgive me for saying so, but lists such as yours, David, ("why not allow fins or kayaks or outboard motors") are a prime example of such snobbery. Heck, the OW Committee's rationale had numerous such examples...and they were ostensibly writing in support of the proposal! (I think so anyway, it was hard to tell at times).
Most OW "purists" are just failed pool swimmers anyway, looking for an event where your time is pretty meaningless or that doesn't require any fast-twitch muscles...:)...actually, now that I think about it, they are really just like triathletes in most respects...
That's definitely correct and it seems the purist thing is often used arbitrarily.
What's up with all your posts lately? It was better when you'd just show up, toss a few grenades and back off for a few weeks. Now, we have to continuously watch out for the chaotic landmines you leave scattered about.
He's been freezing his ass off and he's cranky he has to get back in a pool.
"Purist" is used offensively by the purists when they wax rhapsodically about their beloved sport and denounce those using tech suits and pool toys for ruining it. It is used defensively by the latter when they are forced to defend their honor against snobby elitist noodling accusations.
Most OW "purists" are just failed pool swimmers anyway, looking for an event where your time is pretty meaningless or that doesn't require any fast-twitch muscles...:)...actually, now that I think about it, they are really just like triathletes in most respects...
Actually, while this is a rather bombastic statement, it is largely true.
"Purist" is used offensively by the purists when they wax rhapsodically about their beloved sport and denounce those using tech suits and pool toys for ruining it. It is used defensively by the latter when they are forced to defend their honor against snobby elitist noodling accusations.
best paragraph of the thread (sorry jt)
