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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Ah yes..the debate is getting juicey!!! Considering the locations of some of the swimmers and skill levels, it seems there is legitimate rationale for those who desire/need to wear a wetsuit just to be able to get into the open water.
For those of us who prefer to swim "naked" I guess we should be happy we have a place to swim in the open water where the temps don't immediately drive a hypothermia situation.
Regarding the swimmer with the orange PFD who may have wanted to get rich off writing a book about swimming the rivers...my question would be: who would be interested in reading it? Certainly not a "real swimmer."
Ah yes..the debate is getting juicey!!! Considering the locations of some of the swimmers and skill levels, it seems there is legitimate rationale for those who desire/need to wear a wetsuit just to be able to get into the open water.
For those of us who prefer to swim "naked" I guess we should be happy we have a place to swim in the open water where the temps don't immediately drive a hypothermia situation.
Regarding the swimmer with the orange PFD who may have wanted to get rich off writing a book about swimming the rivers...my question would be: who would be interested in reading it? Certainly not a "real swimmer."
