Wetsuit illegal – to drown or not to drown?

[gripen]

Yes. Find a dam with a hippo in it and go swim!

[SCHWINN LOVER]

Make wetsuits legal at all races but let the competitor decide on wearing or not wearing it.Those who want to can and those who do not wear theirs have a advantage at some point as a wetsuit is a bitch to get off??

[tunariaan]

Train properly and get used to colder water

21C is def not cold

What's next? Guys asking to do ironman in 2 days because one day is too long

[DawieO]

Wetsuits are a concession for climates different to where Triathlon originated. Making it the competitors choice to wear one at any race lessens the sport. At races like IM, where the swim is 3800m, the potential advantage to an average swimmer is 6 or 7 minutes. Considering the fact that a REALLY good swim time for an amateur is in the 50-60min range and an above average swim is in 60-70min range, you would be at a serious disadvantage racing without one.

 

And if it takes you 6 or 7 minutes to take your wetsuit off, I would guess there are bigger issues at hand than your retiscence to engage in the development process and learning to swim properly.

 

Lastly, and personally, I hate swimming in my wetsuit because it feels like cheating.

[Slipstream Sean]

It takes me 20s to get my wetsuit off...and as DawieO says the gain in time that a wetsuit vs no-wetsuit offers bares no comparison to 20s even over a olympic distance.

 

I reckon if the wind is more than 30km/h on the day they should disallow deep section wheels...HAHA...now I'm starting something.

 

Rules are rules...same for everyone

[Henley]

I need to respond to a few hasty, ill-informed assumptions.

To those who think I am too lazy to work on my swimming: I am taking swimming classes and I practice swim on my own. It is paying dividends and soon I shall be able to swim without wetsuit. And will then still be concerned about the safety of others who can’t swim. Do you care about others too – or is it all about you, the ultimate swimmer!?

There was a few sarcastic comments that imply I am not physically up to doing triathlons and should therefore rather stay at home: Well, once upon a time, long long ago, I completed at least 100 canoe triathlons (including the old canoe Ironman of the 1980s - 8 times in a row), completed the old Ultraman series around the time when you were born (8 times in a row), completed countless marathons, including Comrades - 10 times in a row, 100 miler run, 160 bike races, awarded Springbok Colours for canoe triathlon and cycle-run duathlon (SA squad to World Champs) .... You think I could finish a 600/20/5 TRI? If you know little about someone, rather be constructive than presumptuous.

 

Back to the topic:

On a bike ride or run you may actually stop moving and will still be OK. In a swim without a wetsuit you have to keep treading water or you will sink. With a wetsuit you can stop moving completely yet still keep you head above water – scientific fact.

As a further positive contribution, here is another practical idea:

When I swam Midmar without wetsuit in the early 80s the organizers allowed me formally to use a nifty little arm band equipped with CO2 bomb with neatly folded up inflatable round float – bought locally. My agreement with the officials was that I may swim with it, but once used, disqualified obviously. They welcomed the idea. Fair deal, so I finished the race with confidence - without a wetsuit!

Here are some current similar products I found in the Internet, like this inflatable bag that you pull behind you http://ows.openwaterswimming.com/safety-products.html

And this inflatable belt http://www.triaids.com/SwimSafe.htm

Perhaps the TRI shops of SA might take an interest in these? If they can import and sell them to novice swimmers, and in turn put pressure on the race administrators to accept it in races? It seems to work in the USA, but of course South Africans are all hotshot swimmers by birth – judging by some posts below.

Please forgive the serious tone of my postings, but it’s because I just happen to have a problem with arrogance.

Now go and have fun with or without your wetsuit! And go flat-out!

[DawieO]

That's an impressive record Henley.

 

And that device you describe is a brilliant idea!

 

What you experience as arrogance from some (including myself) is actually not that. It a deep and lasting respect for the demands of the sport, and unwavering commitment to achieving the levels of strength, skill and fitness it requires to meet those demands.

 

Because this forces you into a mindspace where one cannot tolerate ones own shortcomings in any of these disciplines, the thought of lowering the bar is virtually incomprehensible.

 

The clever little doodaa you described is fantastic because it doesn't provide an advantage, yet protects the swimmer should something go wrong, unlike a wetsuit which does in fact provide proven and measured advantage.

 

So that's me, off to go running.

Edited December 10, 2011 by DawieO

[Face Plant]

hasn't this gadget got the same effect as lifting your hand to show you in trouble? that's why there are always lifeguards at sanctioned events? show me 100 triathletes that have decided to not do triathlons because of not being able to use wetsuits and i will be the first to sign a petition to TSA

[barrykm]

...people swim in Hartbeespoort Dam.. !!??

Edited December 12, 2011 by barrykm

[kennyg]

Sorry guys but I think the use of a wetsuit should be minimalised. I am an extremely strong swimmer and to be honest a k@k runner.Its not for lack of trying either.Its just the way I am built.

 

If we look at the time spent in each of the elements of tri, cycle is approx 50 % of the race with run 35 % and swim 15%. These are only rough guidelines. So for a strong swimmer to get an advantage in % terms the following is true. If you swim at 80 % of the speed of the top swimmer he only gets a 3 % benefit on you in total race time,however an 80 % run gives the top runner a 7% benefit in total time.

 

If you are such a terrible swimmer that you think you going to drown,Why are you there? If only your confidence needs a boost pay people to compliment you or see a doctor, the physical benefits to a wetsuit are limited, it is still not a survival device, even in extreme cold. Treading water is not difficult, if you have prepared to do a 2-3hr event and panicking 10mins into the swim, puts you about 800m from land if you swim straight out, most courses are not orientated that way and truthfully you are only probably 300m from shore at any point, this gives you 110mins to get back to shore... within your training boundaries.

 

Yes, its for fun, but then dont join the races.

 

If they allow wetsuits at every event, they should let weaker cyclists have push button electric motors and weak runners can wear roller blades...the challenge lies in completing the event within the rules.

[Face Plant]

Sorry guys but I think the use of a wetsuit should be minimalised. I am an extremely strong swimmer and to be honest a k@k runner.Its not for lack of trying either.Its just the way I am built.

 

If we look at the time spent in each of the elements of tri, cycle is approx 50 % of the race with run 35 % and swim 15%. These are only rough guidelines. So for a strong swimmer to get an advantage in % terms the following is true. If you swim at 80 % of the speed of the top swimmer he only gets a 3 % benefit on you in total race time,however an 80 % run gives the top runner a 7% benefit in total time.

 

If you are such a terrible swimmer that you think you going to drown,Why are you there? If only your confidence needs a boost pay people to compliment you or see a doctor, the physical benefits to a wetsuit are limited, it is still not a survival device, even in extreme cold. Treading water is not difficult, if you have prepared to do a 2-3hr event and panicking 10mins into the swim, puts you about 800m from land if you swim straight out, most courses are not orientated that way and truthfully you are only probably 300m from shore at any point, this gives you 110mins to get back to shore... within your training boundaries.

 

Yes, its for fun, but then dont join the races.

 

If they allow wetsuits at every event, they should let weaker cyclists have push button electric motors and weak runners can wear roller blades...the challenge lies in completing the event within the rules.

well said!!

[The Drongo]

I believe a certain 21st century acronym exists for this thread.....

 

HTFU

 

[MDW]

Agreed, regulation is there for a reason, besides there is no better feeling in the world than the fresh water on your skin , you feel alive and at one with nature, to be honest when swimming in my wetsuits I feel stuffed in a rubber bag, claustrophobic and missing out on he true feeling of water. If the temperature is right no wetsuits is needed and actually in most of my ultra distance events which is more than 20 most have actually been without wetsuits then again most of them were not in south Africa. If you have a confidence problem then you need to go out to the dam or river and train in it, there are entry in beautiful SA, try Hennlie if u in JHB, actually maybe all of u can chip in here and make reccommendations on open water swim spots to help out the wetsuit lovers it's the least we can do. And lastly I can actually swim a lot stronger in cooler water, scientific fact, when your body temp is high performance can drop significantly :-), and lastly :-) the only time I really have to use a wetsuite is when my competitors are, I am a strong swimmer and not wearing one when they r gives them a slight edge, it's another reason I don't like them, without them I have an edge which for me is a big help because my bike and run r very strong

Later

M

[SwissVan]

I need to respond to a few hasty, ill-informed assumptions.

To those who think I am too lazy to work on my swimming: I am taking swimming classes and I practice swim on my own. It is paying dividends and soon I shall be able to swim without wetsuit. And will then still be concerned about the safety of others who can’t swim. Do you care about others too – or is it all about you, the ultimate swimmer!?

There was a few sarcastic comments that imply I am not physically up to doing triathlons and should therefore rather stay at home: Well, once upon a time, long long ago, I completed at least 100 canoe triathlons (including the old canoe Ironman of the 1980s - 8 times in a row), completed the old Ultraman series around the time when you were born (8 times in a row), completed countless marathons, including Comrades - 10 times in a row, 100 miler run, 160 bike races, awarded Springbok Colours for canoe triathlon and cycle-run duathlon (SA squad to World Champs) .... You think I could finish a 600/20/5 TRI? If you know little about someone, rather be constructive than presumptuous.

 

Back to the topic:

On a bike ride or run you may actually stop moving and will still be OK. In a swim without a wetsuit you have to keep treading water or you will sink. With a wetsuit you can stop moving completely yet still keep you head above water – scientific fact.

As a further positive contribution, here is another practical idea:

When I swam Midmar without wetsuit in the early 80s the organizers allowed me formally to use a nifty little arm band equipped with CO2 bomb with neatly folded up inflatable round float – bought locally. My agreement with the officials was that I may swim with it, but once used, disqualified obviously. They welcomed the idea. Fair deal, so I finished the race with confidence - without a wetsuit!

Here are some current similar products I found in the Internet, like this inflatable bag that you pull behind you http://ows.openwaterswimming.com/safety-products.html

And this inflatable belt http://www.triaids.com/SwimSafe.htm

Perhaps the TRI shops of SA might take an interest in these? If they can import and sell them to novice swimmers, and in turn put pressure on the race administrators to accept it in races? It seems to work in the USA, but of course South Africans are all hotshot swimmers by birth – judging by some posts below.

Please forgive the serious tone of my postings, but it’s because I just happen to have a problem with arrogance.

Now go and have fun with or without your wetsuit! And go flat-out!

 

Henley your stated record mentions that you were swimming midmar in the early 80’s already, if I may ask why has it taken so long for you to feel confident about completing a swim triathlon without a wet suit?

 

It sounds like to me you might have deeper (pun intended) issues with open water swimming. Perhaps a mental block or fear of swimming in open water rather than the usual beginner’s issues associated with doing their first tri?

 

Unfortunately even with a wetsuit or the other floatation devices you linked it’s still possible to drown, all it takes is for you to float the wrong way around (face down).

Fortunately triathlon has a pretty good record, how many swimmers have drowned in SA tri's, when last did you hear of someone drowning in a SA swim Tri?

 

Unfortunately swim tri’s like a lot of other sports (canoeing is a good example) require a certain element of skill that comes with time and training, taking a short cut (via floatation devices) is IMO adding to the risk factor.

 

If you have the ability to swim the distance but have a mental block then I would suggest that you start at the back or on the outside where there is less of a crowd and a lower probability of getting into a panic situation.

 

EDIT: For the record I'm by no means the "Ultimate" swimmer and also prefer events where wetsuits are allowed, purely because i swim much faster with it.

Edited December 12, 2011 by SwissVan

[Face Plant]

this must be some sort of record....... four posts in a row of perfect sense

Edited December 12, 2011 by Face Plant

[Henley]

We should close this thread now.

See you on Orient beach 22 Jan. Look out for the steel bike with the gear shifters down on the frame just above the water bottle. It will be the only bike left on the bike racks by the time I get to it