FINA to allow bodysuits in Open Water

I have always seen open water swimming as a separate discipline from pool swimming, so I find it understandable that there are different rules including what suits are appropriate for the sport. I have only done OWS in the summer with relatively warm water, but given that the nature of OWS includes fairly cold water temperatures, jellyfish, and other variables, it makes sense that more of the body needs to be covered in certain conditions. Some of my friends competed in the Provincetown OWS with the water in the 60's i believe- even in a wetsuit I would not have liked water that cold! With pool swimming, those variables do not exist. I agree with Chris' analysis and feel that the tech suit ban for 2010 is the best course for usms to adopt.

In order of priority, I think USMS' adherence to swimsuit rules, in pool and open water, should be: Aligned with FINA and the rest of the global Masters' community Aligned with FINA and the rest of the global elite/age-group/USA-S community Like everyone, I think FINA has botched this about every step of the way ... the recent OW ruling is just one more example. Like Chris (I think), I'd like to see the same rules for #1 and #2. However, as there is even a smaller group of USMS swimmers who also compete in #2-style events, if there is a disconnect between #1 and #2, we should be in synch with the Masters community. Now, like Fort (I think), I believe we should allow full body tech suits with defined, measurable criteria. I'd base those criteria on what's on the market today and some very objective regulation scheme (anathema to my libertarian leanings as saying that is) in place moving forward. Whatever decision's made, I'll race in whatever I feel like racing in that is legal for the event I'm competing in. Like Leonard, I'm not going to have a coronary over this. I like the bodysuits, but believe my training (or lack of it) has far more to do with my times these days than a suit.

Just out of curiosity, why can't we go to the USMS top cheeses/committee members and ask them what they are thinking WRT this whole rat's nest? I'm not saying we ask for a ruling and I'm also saying we don't want a "We are going to wait and see..." - type response. Rather, I'd like to hear some of the give and take at that level. Maybe even a VERY informal and non-binding, blind straw poll for some of the most major possibilities. This issue is obviously important to a goodly number of people, even if they are not the majority of the USMS membership. Also, for the record: I think FINA screwed this up by having a dichotomy between pool and OW swimming WRT suits allowed. Whatever it is, it should be the same for both. My personal preference is per the pool rules (i.e. max of jammers for the men, etc. I also think women should only be allowed jammers - fair is fair, after all - ahem - but I digress...) But if it stands as is, fine - I refuse to have a coronary over this. For we "recreational OW swimmers" ,the allowance of tech suits into events really isn't much different than allowing wetsuits - which numerous OW events already do. So no big change except maybe in USMS championship-type races, but again, no coronaries over this either. -LBJ

I think we have asked what is going on. I sent a couple of emails a few months ago and have not had a response of any type. Not even that they received my note. Just out of curiosity, why can't we go to the USMS top cheeses/committee members and ask them what they are thinking WRT this whole rat's nest? I'm not saying we ask for a ruling and I'm also saying we don't want a "We are going to wait and see..." - type response. Rather, I'd like to hear some of the give and take at that level. Maybe even a VERY informal and non-binding, blind straw poll for some of the most major possibilities. This issue is obviously important to a goodly number of people, even if they are not the majority of the USMS membership. Also, for the record: I think FINA screwed this up by having a dichotomy between pool and OW swimming WRT suits allowed. Whatever it is, it should be the same for both. My personal preference is per the pool rules (i.e. max of jammers for the men, etc. I also think women should only be allowed jammers - fair is fair, after all - ahem - but I digress...) But if it stands as is, fine - I refuse to have a coronary over this. For we "recreational OW swimmers" ,the allowance of tech suits into events really isn't much different than allowing wetsuits - which numerous OW events already do. So no big change except maybe in USMS championship-type races, but again, no coronaries over this either. -LBJ

interesting to point out that there are no WR in OPen Water swimming.

FINA has announced that full body suits WILL be allowed in open water races, but not the pool. See www.10kswimmer.com for the article. -LBJ Leonard, Do you know if this includes long sleeves and zippers? Thanks, Laura

basic Thanks for using that word instead of the dread "pure" word, LBJ!

I find it somewhat ironic that pool swimming, which is an artificial construct, has swimmers wear the most basic suits and OW, which is supposed to be more basic, allows swimmers to wear the most artificial suits. Strange tales from a strange time. -LBJ

I have no idea about that. In truth, all I know is what I read in the article. -LBJ