The open water discussion has been a little boring lately so time to add some controversy. The above quote was affixed to a plaque my swimmers gave me when I retired as Head Coach of the University of Denver Masters Swim Team. Yes, they knew where I stood on the subject. Others share my view. In my day job as a stock broker I came across an article in the Wall Street Journal “Wimp or Triathlete, You Probably Like That New Wetsuit" by Kevin Helliker, published on September 24, 1999. In it were several memorable quotes on the subject. "How pathetic, says Betsy Brennan a Lake Michigan swimmer" "When I see people in wetsuits, I think: wimp." Another Chicagoan Ted Erikson, who did a double crossing of the English Channel without a wetsuit, said on the increasingly use of wetsuit by swimmers in Lake Michigan. "I ask them, 'Why don't you just get a boat? Boats have heaters.”:D
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As a new person to the sport of long distance swimming I have to say that my decision to use a wet suit to cross the bay this summer is strictly selfish. I agree that the use of a wet suit is a crutch for me and I view it as a way of helping me get across the bay but that is my goal. I do not want to win the race so that being said I agree that we should have two race categories, with and without.
As a new person to the sport of long distance swimming I have to say that my decision to use a wet suit to cross the bay this summer is strictly selfish. I agree that the use of a wet suit is a crutch for me and I view it as a way of helping me get across the bay but that is my goal. I do not want to win the race so that being said I agree that we should have two race categories, with and without.
