Thinking about starting open water swimming?

"The ideal case would be supervised, supported swims in a bathing suit." Swimming 10km without a support crew? Were there boats on the water? How did you eat/drink? Your body needs fuel after an hour. Did you notify anyone of your swim, expected time and route? What was your plan should the weather turn, or if you got a cramp etc? In the open water, all swims be it training or racing (10kms or longer), must be done with a support crew. If a swimmer has a known medical condition eg heart problems, diabetes then they should have a support crew for 3km and up distances. The old Rule "Never Swim Alone" applies to Open Water Swimmers as well. Regardless of ability and fitness. Safety must come first. It is always surprising how many boat craft operators are not aware of swimmers, especially long distance open water swimmers. I am a strong enforcer of safety in the Open Water. The use of a brightly coloured cap and a support crew are highly enforced in my area. The debate about wetsuits will continue. If a swimmer is not able to stay warm in the cooler waters yet sets a goal to do a longer swim, there are swims out there that will allow a swimmer to use one. Usually there are two catagories in each age group. With a wetsuit and without a wetsuit. It is possible to acclimitise and learn how to handle cooler waters. However it varies naturally with each swimmer. Some people seem to be able to handle much cooler waters than another person with the same BMI. It is tragic to see swimmers succumb to hypothermia. Hypothermia has nasty consequences, yet can be prevented by using a wetsuit to allow a swimmer to reach their goal. Listen to your body. As part of my teaching, I take swimmers out and we 'feel' the effects of the colder waters. By all means "Listen to your body" When you are not able to breathe easily, your thoughts are groggy, your hands and feet are ice blocks or you are having difficulty sucking your water bottle head in. You do not ever want to get hypothermia. Trust me. Fina Sanctioned meets do not allow a wetsuit, so for those lean swimmers, they need to 'grow their own'. If using a wetsuit make sure you are using a wetsuit designed specifically for swimming. There are various models from full body to sleevless to 2 piece (Ideal for diabetic swimmers and triathletes using a pump). They come in a variety of thickness as well. A divers wetsuit, or a waterskiing wetsuit, windsurfing wetsuit will not provide the sleekness nor flexibility required for swimming. It will keep a person warmer but will not be as 'fast' or as comfortable. Properly fitted swimming wetsuits do not chaff or rub or restrict swimmers. I agree, I prefer to feel the water and 'enjoy' the tactile experiences as well. HOwever I am not opposed to the use of wetsuits either. I have yet to find a wetsuit that 'may propel' a swimmer. Isn't it really the motor inside the body that ultimatley counts? Kiwi

Besides swimming I am doing a lot of freediving. Using a wetsuit would be a very natural choice for me. Last year I got a little bit more serious about open water swimming and found out, it's not the same - either to freedive or to swim under the same conditions. You may get the chills after 30 minutes freediving in a 3mm suit in 75°F water. But swimming generates enough heat to feel longer comfortable without a suit, actually, my personal best so far was a 3½ hour swim without a wetsuit in 65°F (freshwater). Last year I chose to wear a 3mm Jacket (bare legs) to swim the length of Wolfgang See near Salzburg in mid September (10.5 K). Because I went by myself without any support/feeding, etc.. I thought it was safer to go with thermal protection, even though afterwards I knew I could have easily made it without it. On top of that the Jacket was chafing badly on my shoulders. I recommend to get used to swimming without a wetsuit and use it only for safety reasons when You go by Yourself without support. Quote from Steve Walker: "Make sure that all your 'firsts' (first time in cold water, first two hour swim, first swim after being sick, etc.) are accompanied or supervised." If not supervised, it's still safer to use thermal protection. The ideal case would be supervised, supported swims in a bathing suit.

Swimming 10km without a support crew? Were there boats on the water? No motor boats and hardly sail boats. Lakes in Austria offer great opportunities for open water swimming. How did you eat/drink? Your body needs fuel after an hour ... The water in Austrian lakes is crystal clear and clean as fountain water. I drank approximately 3 Liters of water on my way, without getting any stomach problems. I tugged a bar of chocolate underneath my bathing suit but I never needed it. May be, because I felt too warm in my 3mm neoprene Jacket, I didn't use up a lot of energy. Did you notify anyone of your swim, expected time and route? ... I told my wife I would call her immediately after finishing which I did. What was your plan should the weather turn, or if you got a cramp etc? ... I swam the long side eastward. The average width is less than 2 K. Most of the time I was within a 10 minutes reach from the shore. This is a picture of Wolfgangsee looking eastward. In the open water, all swims be it training or racing (10kms or longer), must be done with a support crew ... My swim was barely above 10k. I agree with You that I will need a support crew for longer swims in the future. Thanks for Your input :) cheers Gerald