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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Other then the embarrassing shrinkage problem I'm all for the no suit division. Who's sponsoring the race?
Open water swimmers who don't like wetsuits may be purist but elitist were not. All you really need to enjoy open water swimming is a pair of goggles. Wetsuits turn open water swimming into another equipment sport. Open up this months issue of Triathlete "the swimming issue" and you'll find an article on wetsuits, average price $400.
Plus you don't have to have to have the perfect low body fat type displayed on the covers of the various fitness magazines to be a successful open water swimmer. This is a sport that turns regular Ice Cream into a training food.
Other then the embarrassing shrinkage problem I'm all for the no suit division. Who's sponsoring the race?
Open water swimmers who don't like wetsuits may be purist but elitist were not. All you really need to enjoy open water swimming is a pair of goggles. Wetsuits turn open water swimming into another equipment sport. Open up this months issue of Triathlete "the swimming issue" and you'll find an article on wetsuits, average price $400.
Plus you don't have to have to have the perfect low body fat type displayed on the covers of the various fitness magazines to be a successful open water swimmer. This is a sport that turns regular Ice Cream into a training food.
