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
I've done the Columbia River Race in 58 degree water without one (only 3 out of a field of 75) and was accused of not taking the race seriously! Tree
Say what? I thought the wetsuit was considered less "purist"!
I have no wetsuit, but not for "purist" reasons... just b/c of $$. I might eventually try one to see how I like it, but the o.w. swims I've done have all been in water temps of 65 and above, and even when the temp was in the 60s the air temp was warm enough that I didn't feel all that cold.
In my longest o.w. swim, the first place swimmer, and several in the top ten weren't wearing wetsuits. Of course, it was a very warm day and warm water (70s), so could be that wetsuits in those conditions might hinder more than help. I know that at no time during that swim was I ever cold (seasick, yes, but not cold, ha!), and had I worn a wetsuit, I think I would have been too warm.
I've done the Columbia River Race in 58 degree water without one (only 3 out of a field of 75) and was accused of not taking the race seriously! Tree
Say what? I thought the wetsuit was considered less "purist"!
I have no wetsuit, but not for "purist" reasons... just b/c of $$. I might eventually try one to see how I like it, but the o.w. swims I've done have all been in water temps of 65 and above, and even when the temp was in the 60s the air temp was warm enough that I didn't feel all that cold.
In my longest o.w. swim, the first place swimmer, and several in the top ten weren't wearing wetsuits. Of course, it was a very warm day and warm water (70s), so could be that wetsuits in those conditions might hinder more than help. I know that at no time during that swim was I ever cold (seasick, yes, but not cold, ha!), and had I worn a wetsuit, I think I would have been too warm.
