Louisville wetsuit/ swim skin question

Triathlon Forum
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Hello, I am doing IM Louisville in a couple of weeks. It looks like it is going to be a non-wetsuit race. I have an old Aqua-sphere “Swim Skin” from my pre-sure-about-this-ironman-thing days, and I was wondering if anyone knows if such a suit would be allowed. For those not familiar, the Swim Skin is a full length body suit made of lycra AND NEOPRENE. It definitely gives some bouyancy, but not nearly as much as a real wetsuit.

I’m hoping they take a temperature reading down stream of some ice cubes only because I appreciate the safety factor of a wetsuit in a river, that from what I have read, does not seem to have a lot of visibility. From a race organizers standpoint, I imagine they would love to have wetsuits.

Thanks,

Bryce

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anyone? Emailed USAtri and asked for a definition of a wet suit but havent heard back

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I just ordered a Blue Seventy point zero three because of the likely non wetsuit conditions. Although it’s made from rubber is meets the minimum amount allowable by USAT (.03 cm I believe). swim skins are supposed to be neutrally buoyant.

4

Sorry I missed this note earlier.

The Aqua-Shere Swim Skin would be a good choice for L’ville. It will be allowed as it is not a wetsuit. Lots of folks will be wearing “2XU type” skin suits that provide some floatation benefit (minimal). You will get a little floatation benefit from the Aqua-Shpere without melting in a full wetsuit. My wife swims with one at our local pool when the temps drop for the HS team. She notices the bouyancy benefits.

If you have practiced with the skin suit and are comfortable with the normal suit underneath (not rubbing the skin off your tricep area) then by all means go with it on race day. That little bit of floatation and general protection will be nice. Make sure you apply extra body glide around the seams and potential contact points.

Have a great race.

-WT

5

Thanks for the responses.

I just received a an email from USA Tri indicating that the Aqua sphere IS a wetsuit by their definition, so I guess that’s not an option for IM Louisville.

Still having trouble finding out what the “definition” of a wetsuit is - can’t seem to find one on line. The Aqua sphere has .5 mm of neoprene, and apparently thats too much.

Also, does Ironman have a separate rule on use of wetsuits from USA Tri? Since I won’t be gracing the podium anyway, I’d be more than happy to forgo the fruits of placing in my group for the ease of a wetsuit.