Wetsuit illegal – to drown or not to drown?

[bclark]

i think that your wetsuit may be giving you a false sense of security? `wetsuits don't make that much of a difference in fact i have had faster swim splits swimming without a wetsuit... and i think you may be wrong about the masses too as i am sure that the majority of novices don't own a wetsuit due to the price of the wetsuits. may i also just ask... i assume that most if not all of your swim training is done without a wetsuit? so i would suggest forgetting the wetsuit thing and start to enjoy the cold water

 

Great !!!, since you agree that "it doesn’t make that much difference. Then let the people wear the wetsuit. Its not like we gonna win.

 

I speak from experience here. I entered the BSG Brandvlie. Long story short. I got a DNS. Because I crapped myself.

I don’t know what went wrong, in Virgins pool. I easily can do 2.6Ks and more. Only thing I didnt have was a westsuit.

 

Never have I felt so angry,lost,upset and really just disappointed in my life.

 

My wife was great. She said, do what you need to do to, sort this out and manage your fears and emotions and get back out there.

 

Well that very week after BSG.

I had a meeting with my swim coach (Swim coach for Maties and 4x Ironman Finisher), for a mental pep talk.

I got my Orca wetsuit

And that following weekend, I was back out, this time in the sea, and I got my brother in law to canoe behind me in Saldanha.

I even made this posting for open water swimming

 

Look, Im not here to win, I just want to finish.

 

At WPA Open Water challenges, they state that people wearing wetsuits are not eligible for prizes. Im sure those that are 'pro wetsuit', will say the same as me, i,e 'we are fine with that'.

 

So if you don’t mind, Id like to wear my wetsuit, and I will continue to work on my open water swimming (hopefully in time I wont need the wetsuit).

Edited December 8, 2011 by bclark

[Garfield2010]

Is it really a prep thing? Some guys just cant swim. **** happens. Let them wear the wetsuits.....

 

Who cares???!!

[Mojoman]

Oh ok. I just thought the water was very warm in Harties.

 

And green too!

[davem]

To the OP, thanks for a well thought out argument.

 

Some issues that need to be factored into the thinking:

1. Above a certain temperature, a wetsuit can be dangerous due to overheating. In the ocean this can lead to sea sickness.

2. A wetsuit is not a life preserver or floatation device and should never be thought of as that.

2. As mentioned by other posters, if you can't swim the distance without a wetsuit, you should not be in the race. Would you start a marathon without the training, an ocean race without a skippers ticket, fly a plane without a pilots licence.

3. Novice swimmers should self seed and start 30 seconds later. If you want to mix it with the front guys then be prepared. Let the race snakes go and you can swim without being klapped. You are also more visible to the life guards as there are less swimmers around. You are also more accessible by the life guards.

4. It is unlikely that a swimmer will drown because of the lack of a wetsuit. I would suggest that the few swim deaths in triathlons around the world are more likely attributable to heart attacks where the athlete is immobilised and slips unnoticed under the water.

 

In an Ironman, yes it can be tough not to have a wetsuit, but its not called Ironman for nothing.

 

For reference I am a 1h30 Ironman swimmer with a wetsuit, so I can claim knowledge of the back of the pack in the swim.

[Garfield2010]

To the OP, thanks for a well thought out argument.

 

Some issues that need to be factored into the thinking:

1. Above a certain temperature, a wetsuit can be dangerous due to overheating. In the ocean this can lead to sea sickness.

2. A wetsuit is not a life preserver or floatation device and should never be thought of as that.

2. As mentioned by other posters, if you can't swim the distance without a wetsuit, you should not be in the race. Would you start a marathon without the training, an ocean race without a skippers ticket, fly a plane without a pilots licence.

3. Novice swimmers should self seed and start 30 seconds later. If you want to mix it with the front guys then be prepared. Let the race snakes go and you can swim without being klapped. You are also more visible to the life guards as there are less swimmers around. You are also more accessible by the life guards.

4. It is unlikely that a swimmer will drown because of the lack of a wetsuit. I would suggest that the few swim deaths in triathlons around the world are more likely attributable to heart attacks where the athlete is immobilised and slips unnoticed under the water.

 

In an Ironman, yes it can be tough not to have a wetsuit, but its not called Ironman for nothing.

 

For reference I am a 1h30 Ironman swimmer with a wetsuit, so I can claim knowledge of the back of the pack in the swim.

 

Ok here is my argument:-

 

I train for IM. Therefore I like to compete in my wetsuit as much as possible. I like to do transitions with my wetsuit to practise it.

 

As for the overheating, is it really possible in only 600 meters?

 

I understand the laws and all that, I just feel that if a wetsuit is the difference between some guys competing then allow it.

 

2 months back there was a open water double mile swim event in Benoni. No wetsuits was allowed. I called the organiser and asked and he said I am welcome to bring my wetsuit, but will not be eligable for prizes..... Problem solved. If it wasnt for that I would never have gone.

 

Again, the more people we get to do the sport the more events will happen.

 

And remember, BSG events are for fun and to get more people into the sport. You dont have to train that hard to do a BSG.....

 

Dave, how is the water at Emmarenti Dam? Are you guys still swimming there? Is it wetsuit lega?

[Garfield2010]

Oh and Dave, my wetsuit is definately a floatation device!!

 

I also know that Gripen hides polystyrene pieces underneath his wetsuit + a polly-otter.

[DawieO]

Learn to swim and stop whining.

[FanieFiets]

What about keeping the rules the same but allow people that is afraid of the swim to swim with arm floaties. :-) Seriously guys, if you want to do a triathlon, get into the water before the race a couple of times. This is by the far the easiest part of the race. You wouldnt expect to do the cycling or running without training, why then the swimming? If you struggledo a bit of back stroke or breast stroke.

 

 

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_S-BmaFATW1E/TBoRJxH36EI/AAAAAAAAD9I/5QsjVkq-Cx8/s320/P2283.jpg

Edited December 8, 2011 by FanieFiets

[Mojoman]

I am doing the lite Xterra in Buffelspoort in Jan, its only a 400m swim but I am doing lengths at a local pool, a wetsuit is just another cost I can do without unless the water is freezing. Isn't that the only time you need one?

[Seeker911]

The only time I wear a wetsuit is when its damn cold. Example Joburg City Traithlong at germies and Bella Bella 5150. I can tell you the water was frikken cold. Without a wetsuit you are gonna @#$% boetie. Races like Harties and Sun City there's no way you see me in a wetsuit. Point here is a wetsuit has a very specific purpose and thats to protect you from getting hyperthermia. Its not a floatation device for novice swimmers. If you gonna rely on flotation devices to get you through a swim in a race then best you dont compete.

 

What I do say is we need more staggered starts. What scares novice swimmers is having a thousand dudes all thrashing about in the water at the same time. Nothing quite like digesting the dude in front of you toe nails OR being run over by about 5 HOT chicks who started in the wave behind you

[Garfield2010]

Guys I have to differ. My wetsuit definately helps me float as well as swim a lot faster.

 

Google it and you will find that it does help a lot. Apparently if you are a good swimmer it makes no difference, but for the amateur it definately helps.

[Garfield2010]

http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/swimcenter/wetsuittech.html

[Azi]

I don't think its about going faster or even flowting, the argument to be made is mroe about it being a mental confidence booster. And since none of us in this boat (lol, hope we never have to get into the boat) are in it to win, ever, I dont think its a bad thing to let people wear the wet suit until the confidence issue is sorted - after that these same wearers of wetsuits will be able to go without the wetsuit with confidence, and help build the sport.

[Face Plant]

tests have shown that a wetsuit is 10 secs per 100 meters quicker ..... that equals one minute on a 600 meter swim. that minute is almost lost again in transition getting out of your wetsuit. i agree with seeker, i also only use my wetsuit if its very cold.

[dman2]

I agree!

 

I hate running but enjoy the other two disciplines.

So for the last triathlon, in the run section I attempt to wear roller blades.

You would not believe the uproar it caused... it is not like I'm going win or anything!

[SwissVan]

Learn to swim and stop whining.

 

+1

 

It's a triathlon of which being able to swim the distance is the first and most important priority.

 

Wetsuits were introduced to triathlon to prevent competitors drowning due to hyperthermia issues, NOT because they cannot swim properly.

 

What next? Allowing drafting in triathlon will also defeat the object Oh crap to late the wankers already allow it....

 

That about sums up the problem with this world, to bladdy soft you humans are....