Here's an excerpt from a recent Pacific Masters newsletter addressing this topic. In sum, it says your B70 is classed with wetsuits:
USMS says that swim suits for open water now are divided into two categories. Nothing new here. Most of our open water swims already offer two categories; one for wetsuits and for without. What is new is what makes up a Category 1 suit and a Category 2 suit.
Starting this season, Category 1 suits can only be made from textile materials. That means the technical suits from last year (Blue 70’s or Speedo Lazer’s) aren’t legal in this category. For men, (and I’m quoting) the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel nor below the knees. For women, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder nor extend below the knees.
Other things to remember. You can only wear one swim suit at a time. But you can wear a two piece suit. Neoprene caps, nose clips, ear plugs, wristwatches and grease are allowed. Armbands or tape on your body are not allowed. Rash guards aren’t allowed in this category, either.
Category 2 or what we call the wetsuit division, are all other swimwear (e.g. wetsuits, your beloved last year’s technical suit, rash guards and arm bands.) However, any type of tape on your body is still not permitted, unless approved by the event director or event referee. Once the water temperature reaches 78 degrees (does that ever happen here?), the wetsuits need to come off.
For both categories, you will normally be disqualified if you use a device or substance that helps your speed like webbed gloves, fins, snorkels. It goes without saying, that your swimsuit should be non-transparent.
If you want to read the actual rules regarding suits for open water, go to www.usms.org/.../part3.pdf.
Here's an excerpt from a recent Pacific Masters newsletter addressing this topic. In sum, it says your B70 is classed with wetsuits:
USMS says that swim suits for open water now are divided into two categories. Nothing new here. Most of our open water swims already offer two categories; one for wetsuits and for without. What is new is what makes up a Category 1 suit and a Category 2 suit.
Starting this season, Category 1 suits can only be made from textile materials. That means the technical suits from last year (Blue 70’s or Speedo Lazer’s) aren’t legal in this category. For men, (and I’m quoting) the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel nor below the knees. For women, the swimsuit shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder nor extend below the knees.
Other things to remember. You can only wear one swim suit at a time. But you can wear a two piece suit. Neoprene caps, nose clips, ear plugs, wristwatches and grease are allowed. Armbands or tape on your body are not allowed. Rash guards aren’t allowed in this category, either.
Category 2 or what we call the wetsuit division, are all other swimwear (e.g. wetsuits, your beloved last year’s technical suit, rash guards and arm bands.) However, any type of tape on your body is still not permitted, unless approved by the event director or event referee. Once the water temperature reaches 78 degrees (does that ever happen here?), the wetsuits need to come off.
For both categories, you will normally be disqualified if you use a device or substance that helps your speed like webbed gloves, fins, snorkels. It goes without saying, that your swimsuit should be non-transparent.
If you want to read the actual rules regarding suits for open water, go to www.usms.org/.../part3.pdf.
