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
Parents
Former Member
Holy moley Kurt I'm not arguing, I am bantering.
"By irrelevant, I am referring to the results not the person. Right now, I don't believe any USMS or USS sanctioned swims allow a wetsuit to be considered for awards. So in most competitions I've seen, the fastest swimmers swim without one, making the results of the wetsuit division rather meaningless"
Wrong.
"I believe there is no way wetsuits are allowed at the Olympics (unless you are talking about triathlon)."
I don't know. Perhaps someone with more knowledge than you or I will fill our gap.
I prefer to not wear a wetsuit. If the water is below 65 (18.3 to my Euro friends) I wear the rubber.
Very very few people can swim in water in the mid 50s.
Holy moley Kurt I'm not arguing, I am bantering.
"By irrelevant, I am referring to the results not the person. Right now, I don't believe any USMS or USS sanctioned swims allow a wetsuit to be considered for awards. So in most competitions I've seen, the fastest swimmers swim without one, making the results of the wetsuit division rather meaningless"
Wrong.
"I believe there is no way wetsuits are allowed at the Olympics (unless you are talking about triathlon)."
I don't know. Perhaps someone with more knowledge than you or I will fill our gap.
I prefer to not wear a wetsuit. If the water is below 65 (18.3 to my Euro friends) I wear the rubber.
Very very few people can swim in water in the mid 50s.
