i think this is a tough call. Theres a water temp cut off for them, to my knowledge. Are we saying that that cutoff temp should be lowered? Everyone reacts to hot and cold differently---and also theres some age related cold/hot issues as well. I know at a pool i used to swim at, it was frickin hot like 83 degrees and the old men (like 70 yr olds) were talking about how the water is almost too cold.
I think for the majority of newbie triathletes---the swim is the most feared. And so, having that wetsuit is a crutch, but its a crutch to get them through that first season or two until they do become better swimmers. So maybe serious races like Nationals or major USAT sanctioned races WF, Mrs T's, etc should not allow wetsuits---but whats the harm in a sprint tri? I like wetsuits, im a poorer swimmer yes, so i like the rule as it is. Its funny, people want to change the rules to fit what would suit them the best---its not based on any real science.
Now overheating is a major issue---the hottest race i've ever done is WF, and i've never overheated on the swim, that water is always very brisk until like 500m down. I'd be curious to see a study done with triathletes 100 compete in a tri with no wetsuit, the same 100 do the same race with a wetsuit and look at overheating issues later in the day under both conditions. Maybe that has been done, but if it hasnt----then it should be done before a major ruling like that is called.
You know what else helps weaker swimmers and is a detriment to the stronger ones? Drafting on the swim. I've come out minutes faster at races when i got a good draft, rather than when i swam the race mostly by myself for whatever reason. Drafting on the swim helps you more than a wetsuit does. Why dont people want to eliminate that too? Disk wheels? What else?
My first tri---i didnt know how to swim, the water was pretty cold. I was very intimidated--i had no wetsuit (i didnt know about them). And Brad Kearns was the race announcer and he said, "If you dont have a wetsuit....good luck" and laughed an evil laugh i will never forget. This is June in Norcal in a lake.
Want: 58cm Cervelo Soloist. PM me if you have one to sell
Vintage Cervelo: A Resource