Cold water swims and wetsuits

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 08:58:18 GMT

I also feel that OW swimming is a sport that you train for the elements. I do not wear a wetsuit nor do I own a tech suit. I feel that requiring a wetsuit would be out of the question. Everyone handles the cold differently. I would be way too hot & feel sick. I have done an 8 mile swim (temp about 63) with no cold water training & had no problems, no shivering, etc. My body just works that way. On the other hand, I have had reverse "discrimination" at a swim. I was one of w/o a wetsuit & asked multiple times, some in not so nice tones, "where's your suit"? I thought I was wearing it :cool:! I was called nuts & a few other things, maybe some true!! This was a swim that wetsuit & non were all scored the same due to water temp (64). This year I did train in cold water (mid-50's). That was a little on the cold side after an hour & a half!

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:41:37 GMT

I always thought I was a fan of the wetsuit. Until I finally did a race without one. What a difference! And so much more ENJOYABLE! Still, I can't totally knock them - there is no way a cold wimp like me could handle my favorite swim of the year (the Provincetown 1.4 mile across the Bay) without a suit AND a thermal cap. Cold stinks! And as long as we are on the subject - I have a horrible time trying to do any sort of breaststroke in a wetsuit. I usually will take a few breaststrokes here and there to rest and orient, but I get so much buoyancy from the suit I can't keep my legs underwater!! It's bizarre. Anyone else struggle with this?

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:02:46 GMT

after spending a week here in dover, and having spoken about nothing except channel swimming i can say that the "traditional" approach is quite systematic. you train in water that reflects the temperature and conditions you are looking to compete in.... period. on the day of your event, there should be no question as to weather you are prepared or not. start with short sessions and gradually increase exposure. swim in the dark, in the rain, in the wind.... practice feeding, sighting, etc. you might experience shivering, nausia, and yes hypothermia. there is nothing any more macho about it than lifting heavy weights or doing underwater sdk's. the communities of open water swimmers that i have had the pleasure to acquaint myself with are all extremely friendly and supportive .... and yes, many naked swimmers started off as wet-suiters.

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:45:39 GMT

Herb I did not say that temp and hypothermia were unrelated, just stated that hypothermia can get you even when the temp is 80. It all depends on time and the individual’s susceptibility. I don’t believe I have ever seen a manual that states ‘hypothermia only happens below xx temp’, it just becomes more likely the lower the temperature.

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:17:01 GMT

I run a long/cold open water race and have looked at wetsuits with mixed emotions. I currently allow them in a separate category. (Thinking about getting rid of it). I don't wear tech suites and think they are a tremendous waste of money. Safety I don't find wetsuits add any safety factor; hypothermia can get you in 80 degree water. I’m more worried about sudden cardiac arrest (not due to cold). As for floatation, it only takes a little water to drown and lying face down in it works well. Since the wet suits are tight they supply few hand holds. People keeping watch are the only safety. Attitude As for the attitude that wetsuit wearers have to put up with at the beach. I guess it may be partly the result of people that have worked hard to endure the varied conditions of open water swimming, listening to someone brag about kicking ass while getting out of their 3 -5 mm of neoprene. As for me, how can I expect to compete in all these warm water events (65+ degrees)? How can my needs be met by race organizers? My god heatstroke is a very real menace, along with dehydration, how can I be protected? what crutch can I lean on? Maybe I'll have to do it the old fashions way, train to the conditions and distance. Sincerely William Schulz It sounds like you are saying that temperature and hypothermia are unrelated?!?! I can however, see your point with the rest of the post. Cold water and dealing with the conditions seem to be a fundamental part of the sport. It's hard core and if you can't deal with it then find something else. I can't think of another sport where this would be the case - if you are skiing you can wear a hat, if you are a football player you can wear gloves and thermal underwear, etc.. Not much you can do if you are too hot.

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:52:08 GMT

I have to go with grumpy on this. While training for his swim I had to use a pool for one day a week, the water was so hot that i begged the coach to throw ice on me (and he did). I had to back off sometimes to keep from getting heat prostration. FIguring out how to train for cold in warm conditions is part of the game. We've seen wetsuited swimmers drown ehre in events. If the swimmer cna't manage without it then they are at great risk. The only positive thing is that older swimmers who are losing some of thier ability to thermoregulate can continue to enjoy limited exposure to cold water with a wetsuit when they can no longer manage without one. I worry that the wetsuit users feel safer than they really are and take on race challenges that they shouldn't becuase they feel they are "drown proofed".

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:55:05 GMT

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:46:16 GMT

All the "purists" who have worn a tech suit in a meet, please raise your hand.

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 11:02:27 GMT

Cold water is an individual thing. Some he-men relish shivering after an event, bragging about how they couldn't feel their hands and feet after two minutes. Or, my paddler was concerned dude, I started talking gibberish cause I was like cold, or I like cold water, or I can't understand why those wussies wear rubber... Others sip wine, eat fine foods, and understand that technology was not just an invention for the elite.

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 10:41:22 GMT

What is the minimum teperature most suits work for? My friend used one, it was probably too cold and he got really sick. We told him the water was way to cold, he ended up paying for it in the end....

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Bobinator — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 08:28:54 GMT

Most ow swims I've done will allow you to wear a wetsuit, you just don't get scored in with swimmers wearing regular suits. (wetsuits are faster) I know Big Shoulders has a wetsuit division and they are allowing people to switch over up to the night before. I am a bit concerned about the water at bs this year. I am taking a wetsuit. If the water is below 65 degrees I will wear it. If it's over 65 I'm on my own. Last year BS was 68 or 69 degrees. I do no special cold water training and it felt fine to me once I got going. My advice would be a) relax and take off moderately, b)realize things will feel better in about 15 minutes, c) wear 2 caps and ear plugs (I didn't do this last year), d) bring warm coffee or water to drink at the end, e) bring warm sweats and get the wet swimsuit off asap, and f) if you are not trained to go the distance of the ow swim just don't do it. Train properly and try again next year. :angel:

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:37:35 GMT

I rubberize for warmth. My suits are surfing suits, I just won't spend the money on something I'll use a few times a year. I prefer to swim in my speedo. My rubber changes my body position. I don't like having my feet that high in the water. 66 degrees for a mile swim is my floating cutoff. It will change due to factors I am not allowed to discuss in public.

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:21:47 GMT

All the "purists" who have worn a tech suit in a meet, please raise your hand. I don't know that I'm a "purist," but I race open water without a wetsuit and I've worn a full-body tech suit in select pool races. I'm glad when OW races include both a wetsuit and non-wetsuit division. It increases participation. Plus the wetsuiters look more like seals (the preferred meal of...) I'm also glad that the tech suits are (probably) going away. Now to fully confuse the issue, I have an OW race this weekend and I'm considering wearing my tech suit. Might as well get one last race out of it. :dunno:

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Chris Stevenson — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:04:31 GMT

There seems to be this purist mentallity that using wetsuits, no matter how cold the water is is just wrong. Maybe in some ways that is true, but putting 100s of swimmers in 60 F water for a 5k swim with limited safety boats seems dangerous. How many have actually swam in 60 F water for that long? How many actually know they can handle this water temp for that long? How many will recognize hypothermia symptoms and stop? How many can actually get help quickly if there is a problem? Sure, some of these races have the wetsuit division, but it's always considered not ranked and seems to have this "outcast" type feeling behind it. Should football players not use pads because it isn't manly or pure? Should baseball players not use gloves to catch balls? No, because many will get hurt and it is dangerous. Why is using or mandating wetsuits not the same for water temps that are say below 65 F...or some number anyway? They provide safety to the swimmer by preserving core the temperature and flotation if someone has a problem with the cold water. Yes, they do provide an advantage in the water because of the flotation and being more streamlined, but if everyone is in a suit, it doesn't really matter. And, the reason for wearing the suits is because the water is cold, not because they want to go faster, like the how the tech suits are used. While I have been an advocate of wetsuit divisions to increase participation, I don't wear them and I think I can play devil's advocate and tell you the "purists" point of view. While safety is a legitimate concern, there is a feeling -- as you can tell from the posts here -- that you shouldn't attempt an OW swim that you are not at all prepared to do. There are two aspects to an OW race: the distance and the conditions. You need to train for both. Though it can happen, there aren't that many surprises. From previous history of the race/area you should be able to predict the race conditions and prepare appropriately. The football/baseball analogies are not at all apt. The whole point of OW swimming is to compete on a natural course under natural conditions. If you want to sanitize the race...well, that's what pool competitions are all about, right? It is similar to the difference between cross-country running and running on a track. (Except that you can wear what you want in cross-country. Whoops.:))

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:00:03 GMT

I share your exact concerns Drive. I swam in a couple of triathlons where the temp was about 65 and that didn't sound that cold to me although I hadn't really had a lot of recent experience swimming in water that cold. These were 500M swims that took me 7 minutes so I had no desire to wear a wetsuit because it would have taken me longer to take off the wet suit than to complete the swim (the only sport I am any good at - relatively speaking). But I absolutely froze my ass off to the point I questioned my own safety. I don't know if the original rush of excitement created much of my problems and I would have gained comfort over a longer distance, but I would be scared to find that out. As someone that wanted to venture into OW swimming this summer, the outcast view of wetsuits didn't help, especially since I had no desire to wear one myself for the purity factor and I don't want any speed advantage from it. But I think I have come to grips with the fact I just can't handle it below about 68 and I'll wear a wet suit or find races with warmer water. I could see this becoming a big problem as the sport gains popularity and people go out of their element. But at the same time, I'm not one to stop anyone from doing something they want to do. And as others pointed out, it really hasn't been a problem at all yet so maybe people in this sport really do know their limits.

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:46:06 GMT

Since there haven't been a large number of drownings in OW races attributed to water temperature, I'd suggest that this is a somewhat moot issue. Apparently either the safety precautions are adequate or most people have enough sense to not get in over their heads. Or maybe it's just luck, but that is a huge amount of luck we are talking about. If a race director insists on dangerous conditions, then you should vote with your feet. If a person insists on putting themselves in danger by inadequate preparation, (s)he is an idiot, but as long as (s)he endangers no one else, oh well. Regardless, OW swims have an historical basis in no wetsuits and it is part of the sport. That said, there are plenty of races that will allow wetsuits, so while one may be excluded from a specific race, one is not denied participation in the sport completely. Also, some of us LIKE cold water swims (OK, this is the lunatic fringe), and requiring a wetsuit for a race is a bit too much "nanny-ism" for me, and I'd vote with my feet. As to the purist mentality, we're adults and you shouldn't feel like you have to be one of the "cool kids." I've never worn a wetsuit and likely never will, but the earth's surface is 70% water, so there is plenty for everyone to swim in, even the moral lepers who wear wetsuits. -LBJ

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:04:43 GMT

RE: Cold water swims and wetsuits

Former Member — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:02:14 GMT

1. Cold water can be overcome by training for it. Taking cold showers/baths, cold water swims, trains the mind and body to adapt including those with lower body fat. But it’s not an easy rode. "The struggle alone pleases us, not the victory." - Blaise Pascal 2. My experience says the fraternity of non wetsuit swimmers knows very well what were getting in too and very few are unprepared. 3. Do we not recognize Rugby and water polo players as a tough breed? Yea call purist but that’s what turns are crank. As far as wetsuits go there is a quote from Homer Simpson “If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing.”