Am I right that suits like the B70 10K and other similar suits legal in open water swims for 2010? (regarding Masters swimming)
I’m pretty sure suit rules are the same for open water as for pool swims. The high tech suits are legal for masters until July? or sometime thereabouts.
I think I heard pretty much the same, pool and OW will be the same rules…Jammers for dudes, trisuits for the ladies. Watching NCAA’s last week it seems they have already implimented the rule, a little grace period left for us masters…
I’ve looked into doing some OW races this year. Possibly a 10K. I’ve noticed that many OW races will let you swim with a wetsuit but you will not be eligible for awards.
That is getting a lot more common, and rightly so. Open water swimming is really a tiny niche sport, and they should do everything to encourage more people to give it a try. The first race I plan on doing in May is in Encinitas, and they have two seperate divisons, but the non wetsuit one is where the awards are…But funny thing when I looked at last years results, the field was pretty much split in half in numbers, and all the guys I would want to race like Tinley and some other old pros were in the wetsuit division…I’m really torn now as to which race to do, I want to race my buds, but I also do not want to wear a wetsuit…I’m hoping they have one heat for both swims and I will most likely race my rubber buddies in my jammers…
Any of you left coast guys do La Jolla Rough water before? Sounds interesting… Lots of history.
That’s an old classic around here, but it’s been over 20 years for me since I did it. They were one of the first that I ever remember breaking up into heats or waves, not sure if that is still the case…The race I like to do every year here is the Hermosa to Manhattan pier swim. Up until last year a mass start, no wetsuit under any circumstances, and you have to qualify…Last year they panicked with the largest field ever, and some local coach saying someone is going to die. SO they seperated the men and women in two heats, and I know a few ladies that were really pissed off about that…But if you get a chance to do La Jolla, definately go for it…
There was a post the swimming websites like usaswimming.org or swimming world indicating that the FINA or USS rules for OW races were slightly different from the rules for regular swimming meets in that they allowed suits larger than jammers for men or whatever woman can use. I don’t think that the fabric rules are different, only the size. Sorry I can’t be more specific, but I just glanced at it quickly, thought it was interesting and then moved on because it doesn’t really affect me one way or the other.
La Jolla Rough Water is a great race. I think the 3-mile is a mass start while the 1-mile is a wave start. I second what monty wrote about Hermosa to Manhattan. Great race. The start scares the hell out of me every year but it’s an awesome experience.
Sully,
Check out usms.org, specifically the open water forum, there you will find messages from the head of open water for usms.
The suits for open water in 2010 are the same as the rules were for everything else in 2009. So your blue seventy 10k or whatever is legal.
However, note that this actually doesn’t apply as widely as you might think. Mostly this applies to the usms open water championship swims and a few others. Most other open water races have their own rules for suits. For example, many of the races are wetsuit legal. Others, like the Kingdom swim in Vermont follow Santa Barbara Channel suit rules, more restrictive than normal rules. So you need to check ahead of time anyway.
But if you wanted to do one of the usms championship series then yes your blue seventy speedsuit is legal.
The suits for open water in 2010 are the same as the rules were for everything else in 2009. So your blue seventy 10k or whatever is legal.
are you sure on this? Have had a number of folks email me about what the rules are for this year and one of them directed me to a FINA OW page of approved suits and it looks like it was simply a cut&paste of the pool approved briefs/jammers. Still trying to figure out what to suggest to people doing OW events. Another thing i have “heard” is that you can go from above knee to the shoulder and that this was FINA OW. Thanks for any clarification.
The suits for open water in 2010 are the same as the rules were for everything else in 2009. So your blue seventy 10k or whatever is legal.
are you sure on this? Have had a number of folks email me about what the rules are for this year and one of them directed me to a FINA OW page of approved suits and it looks like it was simply a cut&paste of the pool approved briefs/jammers. Still trying to figure out what to suggest to people doing OW events. Another thing i have “heard” is that you can go from above knee to the shoulder and that this was FINA OW. Thanks for any clarification.
USMS swimming is my thing, so I’m fairly confident in saying that 2010, we are following the same rules for open water and long distance that we followed in 2009 for USMS. Here’s the correct section in the rule book: http://www.usms.org/rules/part3.pdf
The rules did change for short course yards though, and could still change for open water for 2010. Here’s the rule change from January that only applies to SCY:
EMERGENCY RULE CHANGE
Due to the change in Masters swimwear rules published by FINA January 16, 2010, and
pursuant to Article 601.4.8, the USMS Rules Committee and the USMS Executive
Committee have approved the following emergency changes to the USMS swimwear
rules. These changes are effective immediately for short course meters and long course
meters competition. The changes are effective June 1, 2010 for short course yards
competition. Note that the new swimwear rules no longer allow modesty/privacy wear
underneath the competition suit nor zippers or fasteners of any kind except for a waist tie
on a brief or jammer. The new swimwear rules will not govern the One Hour Swim
being conducted January 2010.
Changes to the swimwear rules are underlined below.
102.14 SWIMWEAR
102.14.1 Design-The swimsuits worn for competition shall be nontransparent and conform to the current concept of the appropriate. The referee shall have authority to bar offenders from competition until they comply with this rule.
102.14.2 Swimwear shall include only a swimsuit, cap and goggles (a nose clip and ear plugs are allowed). Arm bands or leg bands shall not be regarded as parts of the swimsuit and are not allowed.
102.14.3 In swimming competitions, the competitor must wear only one swimsuit in one or two pieces. All swimsuits shall be made from textile materials. Except for open water competitions, for men, the swimsuit shall not extend above the navel nor below the knees, and for women, shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor extend below the knees.
102.14.4 Only swimsuits complying with FINA swimsuit specifications may be worn in any U.S. Masters Swimming sanctioned or recognized competition.
102.14.5 Exemptions to the foregoing restrictions may be granted to a swimmer, on a case by case basis, by the Chair of the Rules Committee or designee. Exemptions will be granted only for conflicts due to the swimmer’s verified religious beliefs or verified medical conditions.
A Procedures for applying for an exemption will be established by the Rules Committee and posted on the U.S. Masters Swimming website.
B No exemption to these restrictions will be granted for a swimsuit that will give the swimmer a competitive advantage.
C The decision of the Rules Chair may be appealed only to the entire Rules Committee whose decision shall be final and binding on all parties.
102.14.6 Swimmers are not permitted to wear or use any device or substance or swimsuit to help their speed, pace, buoyancy or endurance during a race (such as webbed gloves, flippers, fins, etc.). Goggles may be worn, and rubdown oil applied if not considered excessive by the Referee. Any kind of tape on the body is not permitted unless approved by the Referee.
102.14.7 Advertising-Products involving tobacco, alcohol or pharmaceuticals containing drugs banned under IOC or FINA rules may not be advertised, but the advertiser’s name only may be used. Offenders may be barred from competition until they comply with this rule.
For any questions contact:
Kathy Casey, Chair
USMS Rules Committee
rules@usms.org
You may also view the Emergency Rule Change at usms.org.
***EMERGENCY RULE CHANGE ***
I love how they call it an “Emergency” rule change. Like it was a life-threatening situation, or something! 
Not disputing what the new FINA rules say, but in the wake of all this there seems to be a considerable amount of confusion. Many Master’s clubs/associations have no idea what’s going on. I have called a few to find out for myself. Best to call or contact the event in question to understand clearly what the rules are governing suits for that race.
***EMERGENCY RULE CHANGE ***
Best to call or contact the event in question to understand clearly what the rules are governing suits for that race.
You can always email Kathy directly at rules@usms.org
.
thank you, very helpful.
You can always email Kathy directly at rules@usms.org
Good call.
However the in/out/in/out position and ruling by FINA last year is a good illustration of the, make-it-so, world that many sports governing bodies operate. They make decisions and then, think not at all, about the down-stream ramifications of that decision, essentially leaving everyone except the inner-circle in the know to, muddle along and figure things out on their own. Imagine if you ran a business that way?
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are you sure on this?
Quite sure, and you are looking in the wrong place. The original question was about us masters swimming, not FINA, not USAS. The rules for open water swimming in us masters can be found where I mentioned before, if you care to know them then look there.