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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Former Member
I am with you...a purist...minimalist. The only obstacle is that I set my min H2O temp at 58F. While growing up, I swam in S.F. Bay in colder temps, but I'm older now and don't like shivering when I get out of the water. I have tons of memories of wearing my wetsuit surfing at Ocean Beach in the dead of winter and wouldn't recommend surfing without one - surfing is an entirely different sport. For winter swims, my solution is to find warmer water (shallower areas) or now that I'm on the "right" coast, wait until the CB warms a bit or find a pool- preferably long course.
I agree with Ken on everything he said above and particularly about wetsuits being a contributor to turning our sport into another equipment sport. I've got a list of other drawbacks to using wetsuits:
1. They chafe
2. They smell up your car
3. They never really dry out in winter so they permenantly smell bad
4. In summer they dry out, smell and begin to crack
5. Sea nettles get in and are hard to rinse out
6. They add time to your workout window- gotta put it on and take it off
7. Shark Bait!!!! You look like food to them
I am with you...a purist...minimalist. The only obstacle is that I set my min H2O temp at 58F. While growing up, I swam in S.F. Bay in colder temps, but I'm older now and don't like shivering when I get out of the water. I have tons of memories of wearing my wetsuit surfing at Ocean Beach in the dead of winter and wouldn't recommend surfing without one - surfing is an entirely different sport. For winter swims, my solution is to find warmer water (shallower areas) or now that I'm on the "right" coast, wait until the CB warms a bit or find a pool- preferably long course.
I agree with Ken on everything he said above and particularly about wetsuits being a contributor to turning our sport into another equipment sport. I've got a list of other drawbacks to using wetsuits:
1. They chafe
2. They smell up your car
3. They never really dry out in winter so they permenantly smell bad
4. In summer they dry out, smell and begin to crack
5. Sea nettles get in and are hard to rinse out
6. They add time to your workout window- gotta put it on and take it off
7. Shark Bait!!!! You look like food to them
