I have no problem with wet suits even though I don't wear one. I prefer races with a separate wet suit division, but as Leonard said, if there isn't one, tough. I know what I'm getting into.
I also have found that swimmers of all abilities participate in the OWS I compete in, and I've never even been involved in an overly aggressive start. A little bumping at the beginning, but then none of us can see two feet in front of us so it happens. Certainly never seen any overly macho stuff (except from the occasional dork who loudly proclaims before the start he's only doing this to prepare for an Iron Man length tri). And even tho I swim 450 miles a year in a pool and only about 10-15 per year in the open water, I'm always welcome.
I don't have a problem with triathletes doing OWS with or without wet suits regardless of their swimming ability. I DO have a problem with triathletes entering OWS events, being aggressive at the start despite a lack of ability, and generally thrashing about like brutes to the detriment of others. To those folks, I say, "Stay away from OWS. Stick to your tri's, and I will stick to my swims." (of course, if you've seen me try to run, you'd know why. . . .:cane:)
I have no problem with wet suits even though I don't wear one. I prefer races with a separate wet suit division, but as Leonard said, if there isn't one, tough. I know what I'm getting into.
I also have found that swimmers of all abilities participate in the OWS I compete in, and I've never even been involved in an overly aggressive start. A little bumping at the beginning, but then none of us can see two feet in front of us so it happens. Certainly never seen any overly macho stuff (except from the occasional dork who loudly proclaims before the start he's only doing this to prepare for an Iron Man length tri). And even tho I swim 450 miles a year in a pool and only about 10-15 per year in the open water, I'm always welcome.
I don't have a problem with triathletes doing OWS with or without wet suits regardless of their swimming ability. I DO have a problem with triathletes entering OWS events, being aggressive at the start despite a lack of ability, and generally thrashing about like brutes to the detriment of others. To those folks, I say, "Stay away from OWS. Stick to your tri's, and I will stick to my swims." (of course, if you've seen me try to run, you'd know why. . . .:cane:)
