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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I'd say its the case that virtually all swimmers are significantly faster with a wetsuit than without one.
Unfortunately, the speed effect seems to be that wetsuits aid swimmers who are slower and/or have technique flaws more than they aid swimmers who are faster and/or have better technique. This tends to revert all towards the average, which is not a desired effect in competition.
Essentially, wetsuits create another division, so in races, results ought to differentiate. Most OW swim races do this, but triathlons do not. I suppose the best you could hope for in tris is that wetsuits should be disallowed above a certain temperature, say 70F, but that is not likely to happen.
As for wearing them at all, I much prefer to not wear a wetsuit. My technique is fine and I prefer the feeling of the water, but when its cold, they get me in the water for training swims.
I'd say its the case that virtually all swimmers are significantly faster with a wetsuit than without one.
Unfortunately, the speed effect seems to be that wetsuits aid swimmers who are slower and/or have technique flaws more than they aid swimmers who are faster and/or have better technique. This tends to revert all towards the average, which is not a desired effect in competition.
Essentially, wetsuits create another division, so in races, results ought to differentiate. Most OW swim races do this, but triathlons do not. I suppose the best you could hope for in tris is that wetsuits should be disallowed above a certain temperature, say 70F, but that is not likely to happen.
As for wearing them at all, I much prefer to not wear a wetsuit. My technique is fine and I prefer the feeling of the water, but when its cold, they get me in the water for training swims.
