Is that wetsuit legal? Does it change year by year as the water temps change?
Usually, it is wetsuit legal. It’s very close most of the time. The temps typically hover around 80 the entire month of October until the first ‘cold’ front of the year drops down to cool things off.
If you’re doing GFT, bring your wetsuit, no matter wha the water temp is during the week before.
…i guess they don’t use the Ironman North America patented thermometer to measure water temp at GFT.
Old School,
In late 80’s beginning 90’s I remember that the thermometers were ready weird stuff!!! At that time the president and other member of the federation were athletes and excellent swimmers. So they would always prefer no wetsuit swim so they could have good leads… I guess at that time the patented thermometer had something to do who was running the federation… Old days… 
The bigger issue is to prepare for “limited” visability. Like 3 inches tops. Sleeveless is probably the way to go.
Chip, are you going there? I might be there doing the half. I haven’t decided.
It is usually too warm for wetsuits, but they manage to find a spot on the bottom of the lake that is “below” 78 anyway.
I cooked in a full suit two years ago.
The bigger issue is to prepare for “limited” visability. Like 3 inches tops. Sleeveless is probably the way to go.
Definitely!! But don’t mistake that for ‘dirty’ water. The water is actually very clean. The brown tint is due to the tanins(sp?) from the trees growing along the banks. Think of it as a big ‘tea’ lake.
I am in GFT full…
This comment is dead on. You will not see your hand in front of you.
I did the fullsuit two years ago. I won’t do that again.