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
Former Member
Dr. Kurt- Great comments, but hey, if it wasn't for lawyers there would be a longer line at the pearly gates!
Wet suit or not- whatever it takes to get you out there. 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! I finally wore one in the Chesapeake Bay 4.4 race this summer and hated it. The added bouyancy throws off my stroke. I caved in to peer pressure. I think the race director (who otherwise does a fantastic job) ought to foster more non-wetsuit categories.
Tree
Dr. Kurt- Great comments, but hey, if it wasn't for lawyers there would be a longer line at the pearly gates!
Wet suit or not- whatever it takes to get you out there. 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! I finally wore one in the Chesapeake Bay 4.4 race this summer and hated it. The added bouyancy throws off my stroke. I caved in to peer pressure. I think the race director (who otherwise does a fantastic job) ought to foster more non-wetsuit categories.
Tree
i couldn't agree more with the last sentence. both times i swam the bay, h20 temps were mid 70's.....clearly not a safety issue for 95% of the field.
"I think the race director (who otherwise does a fantastic job) ought to foster more non-wetsuit categories."
I think one non-wetsuit category would suffice. But keep it pure, no caps, goggles, paddlers, or lifeguards. Everyone should own up to thier own limitations.
The wetsuit divisions should be divided into those served cocktails during the race, those wishing to refrain till after the event, and those accompanied by thier lawyers trying to exploit a tragedy for a cheap buck.
Say what? I thought the wetsuit was considered less "purist"!
I think that the rational for the "not taking it seriously" remark is that
it is generally believed that most people are faster with a wetsuit. So if most of the field is wearing a wetsuit and you are not, you are not you are giving them an edge and therefore not going all out to win.
I think one non-wetsuit category would suffice. But keep it pure, no caps, goggles, paddlers, or lifeguards. Everyone should own up to thier own limitations.
I wouldn't call any of these limitations. Especially when swimming a body of water like the Chesapeake Bay where water is not chrystal-clear and is subject to boat traffic or marine life, these measures are there to help minimize the risk of a disaster.
a bright-colored cap identifies where you are;
goggles help you make sure you stay on course, especially if there aren't two large lane lines like there are for the bay swim;
the paddlers/lifeguards are there to not only make sure you can make it across, but also are easily identified by other boaters and prevent you from getting run over by boat traffic.
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 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."
Actually, triathlons forbid wetsuits above 78 degrees (you can wear but are not eligible for prizes). I shed mine above 70 degrees as the overheating factor trumps the buoyancy factor for me.
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.
