Could Nice be a non wetsuit swim this year? Just peaked at the water temp in the Baie des Anges and it is currently 78.1. Yes I know it’s a surface measurement from a satellite but that is where swimmers tend to swim, on the surface. Temperatures in Nice will be in the mid to high 80’s all through August. So this could get interesting! Don’t pack your wetsuit yet;)
Last year it was 24.1 degrees celcius if I remember correctly, just wetsuit legal
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Currently 78.9 (26.1 c )
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Currently 78.9 (26.1 c )
I’d like if it would stay at at least 24.6°C 
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Yes that would be great
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Are we really going to be having a water temp/wetsuit discussion about the World Championship? Sheesh. Not a single person racing this should be concerned about swimming without a wetsuit.
Are we really going to be having a water temp/wetsuit discussion about the World Championship? Sheesh. Not a single person racing this should be concerned about swimming without a wetsuit.
Are we allowed to have the discussion if we want the swim to be non-wetsuit?
Are we really going to be having a water temp/wetsuit discussion about the World Championship? Sheesh. Not a single person racing this should be concerned about swimming without a wetsuit.
Are we allowed to have the discussion if we want the swim to be non-wetsuit?
Hmm… I’ll allow it
Personally I don’t care either way just as long as the swim isn’t cancelled
I just want it on record how high the water temperature is right now. I only care about rules being enforced and agree that if it is cancelled or shortened due to some utterly stupid, made up reason like tiny swells I would be a wee bit upset.
Are we really going to be having a water temp/wetsuit discussion about the World Championship? Sheesh. Not a single person racing this should be concerned about swimming without a wetsuit.
My 2ct are that I would appreciate swimming withOUT a wetsuit!
Do I know that I am not being forced to swim in a wetsuit - yes.
Do I always use a wetsuit if it is allowed - no.
Am I not slower without a wetsuit - I am.
Do I enjoy having a super fast T1 and do not need to carry my wetsuit back after the race - yes.
Will I wear a wetsuit in Nice if it will be allowed - most likely yes.
Does it require a discussion the one or the other way - no. Could it be fun discussing the water temperature in Nice - maybe
Well, let’s bring it on with a serious question: Let’s assume your 100m swimming time difference between with and without wetsuit would be 5 seconds in sweet water. Is the difference still the same in salt water or does it get less because your body position is anyway already higher?
My unpopular opinion is that wetsuits shouldn’t be allowed at any world championships. It has an added benefit of spacing people out a bit more to reduce bunching on the bike. Anyway, this thread is about as far as that suggestion will go.
My unpopular opinion is that wetsuits shouldn’t be allowed at any world championships. It has an added benefit of spacing people out a bit more to reduce bunching on the bike. Anyway, this thread is about as far as that suggestion will go.
While I somewhat agree with you, if it ever happens that the 70.3WC is held in a place where the water really is cold (like say under 65f) then you would want the option.
The 2017 WC in Chatt was reported “wetsuit legal” both days. That’s literally what they said over the loudspeakers in transition. They didn’t tell us the water temp, they just said it was “wetsuit legal” for the AGs. I asked an official what the temp reading was, and he “couldn’t” tell me. When I jumped in the water it was painfully obvious it was way too warm for a wetsuit. I was really irritated. I always wear mine if it’s legal because, yes, I am faster with it on. But I am fully capable of swimming without it, and if it’s too warm, great. That day in Chatt I was annoyed at how warm the water was. Guessing it was 78. But they either “found a cool spot” or they just lied about it. Either way I came out a bit overheated.
It’s the WC, not some local sprint tri that has beginners. I forgive any local race that attracts first timers if they fudge the water temp to allow wetsuits. I thought it was stupid that they did that at a WC-level event.
In Nice on vacation with the fam (no training going on) and just took a dip in water, it was amazing and I can vouch that the water is very warm right now. Also, what surprised me coming from the Great Lakes and sandy beaches was that the beach is very rocky and drops off fairly quickly into the water. Good luck to everyone going in a few weeks looks like a great place race.
My unpopular opinion is that wetsuits shouldn’t be allowed at any world championships. It has an added benefit of spacing people out a bit more to reduce bunching on the bike. Anyway, this thread is about as far as that suggestion will go.
While I somewhat agree with you, if it ever happens that the 70.3WC is held in a place where the water really is cold (like say under 65f) then you would want the option.
The 2017 WC in Chatt was reported “wetsuit legal” both days. That’s literally what they said over the loudspeakers in transition. They didn’t tell us the water temp, they just said it was “wetsuit legal” for the AGs. I asked an official what the temp reading was, and he “couldn’t” tell me. When I jumped in the water it was painfully obvious it was way too warm for a wetsuit. I was really irritated. I always wear mine if it’s legal because, yes, I am faster with it on. But I am fully capable of swimming without it, and if it’s too warm, great. That day in Chatt I was annoyed at how warm the water was. Guessing it was 78. But they either “found a cool spot” or they just lied about it. Either way I came out a bit overheated.
It’s the WC, not some local sprint tri that has beginners. I forgive any local race that attracts first timers if they fudge the water temp to allow wetsuits. I thought it was stupid that they did that at a WC-level event.
With the way WTC is coddling its swimmers lately, I doubt they will ever host the WC in a place with cold water, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
I was in Chatt too in 2017- I believe they suspiciously reported the water temp at a perfect 76.2 degrees (or whatever the exact cutoff is). It felt a LOT warmer than that.
Another unpopular opinion of mine is that they should lower the wetsuit legal temp to 73 degrees. I even started a thread on it last year which really got the ST pitchforks out.
My unpopular opinion is that wetsuits shouldn’t be allowed at any world championships. It has an added benefit of spacing people out a bit more to reduce bunching on the bike. Anyway, this thread is about as far as that suggestion will go.
While I somewhat agree with you, if it ever happens that the 70.3WC is held in a place where the water really is cold (like say under 65f) then you would want the option.
The 2017 WC in Chatt was reported “wetsuit legal” both days. That’s literally what they said over the loudspeakers in transition. They didn’t tell us the water temp, they just said it was “wetsuit legal” for the AGs. I asked an official what the temp reading was, and he “couldn’t” tell me. When I jumped in the water it was painfully obvious it was way too warm for a wetsuit. I was really irritated. I always wear mine if it’s legal because, yes, I am faster with it on. But I am fully capable of swimming without it, and if it’s too warm, great. That day in Chatt I was annoyed at how warm the water was. Guessing it was 78. But they either “found a cool spot” or they just lied about it. Either way I came out a bit overheated.
It’s the WC, not some local sprint tri that has beginners. I forgive any local race that attracts first timers if they fudge the water temp to allow wetsuits. I thought it was stupid that they did that at a WC-level event.
With the way WTC is coddling its swimmers lately, I doubt they will ever host the WC in a place with cold water, but I hope to be pleasantly surprised.
I was in Chatt too in 2017- I believe they suspiciously reported the water temp at a perfect 76.2 degrees (or whatever the exact cutoff is). It felt a LOT warmer than that.
Another unpopular opinion of mine is that they should lower the wetsuit legal temp to 73 degrees. I even started a thread on it last year which really got the ST pitchforks out.
Check the 2020 IM 70.3 WC Taupo thread for discussion of water temps there in December,
Welp, I stand corrected.
Do I know that I am not being forced to swim in a wetsuit - yes.
Am I not slower without a wetsuit - I am.
Here is one thing that bothers me, I hate swimming in a wetsuit (and I’m not even fast) and the couple times I have mentioned it here I have been told “no one is forcing you to wear it” but essentially, if the swim is wetsuit legal and I choose not to wear one, I am putting myself at a disadvantage because even the best swimmers are still faster with wetsuits, even if only by seconds. So yes, unless the swim is over 60 F, you aren’t “forced” to wear it but you kind of are, right? If you hope to be competitive, especially since this discussion is about a WC, the assumption is that everyone racing is there to be competitive and can’t afford to lose even 1 second to a poor equipment decision.
Do I know that I am not being forced to swim in a wetsuit - yes.
Am I not slower without a wetsuit - I am.
Here is one thing that bothers me, I hate swimming in a wetsuit (and I’m not even fast) and the couple times I have mentioned it here I have been told “no one is forcing you to wear it” but essentially, if the swim is wetsuit legal and I choose not to wear one, I am putting myself at a disadvantage because even the best swimmers are still faster with wetsuits, even if only by seconds. So yes, unless the swim is over 60 F, you aren’t “forced” to wear it but you kind of are, right? If you hope to be competitive, especially since this discussion is about a WC, the assumption is that everyone racing is there to be competitive and can’t afford to lose even 1 second to a poor equipment decision.
Ehh, since it’s the WC that may not necessarily be true. At least for me, I am going to be solidly middle of the pack in Nice, so this is one of the rare cases where I really am not trying to be competitive.
Do I know that I am not being forced to swim in a wetsuit - yes.
Am I not slower without a wetsuit - I am.
Here is one thing that bothers me, I hate swimming in a wetsuit (and I’m not even fast) and the couple times I have mentioned it here I have been told “no one is forcing you to wear it” but essentially, if the swim is wetsuit legal and I choose not to wear one, I am putting myself at a disadvantage because even the best swimmers are still faster with wetsuits, even if only by seconds. So yes, unless the swim is over 60 F, you aren’t “forced” to wear it but you kind of are, right? If you hope to be competitive, especially since this discussion is about a WC, the assumption is that everyone racing is there to be competitive and can’t afford to lose even 1 second to a poor equipment decision.
I have done several wetsuit legal swims without a wetsuit. Just because, similar as you, I feel better. And I do not believe that I am losing much time comparing faster swim against time I need to take off the wetsuit and put it in a bag. Maybe 30-50 seconds difference!? Typically, I do not care and I will not care about a few seconds in the overall result in Nice. Who cares if you finish 27th, 32nd or 41st? I don’t.
However, and this is why I will swim with wetsuit if it will be legal (and why I would even more appreciate if it should not be legal) - I am a pretty good swimmer and would take the 5 seconds of fame for being first out of water in the first start wave (M40) after the Pros 
I am with you on this. I did not expect to qualify for this race. So when I did qualify, it was a quick discussion with my wife after the race to determine if we wanted to go. Of course, the idea of a race-cation without the little one, in Frane no less, required no convincing at all!
I am approaching this race with the mindset that there are those who will take this race seriously as this is their version of Kona, which is awesome! My main goal is to KQ this year at IMAZ, so this is not my A race. I am going to enjoy this time and be grateful for the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful country and be with like minded people!
If the water is wetsuit legal, I will wear a wetsuit. But I am not overthinking it at all.