Swim skin (getting zipper down in a race?!)

Triathlon Forum
1

So, borrowed a swim skin for Des Moines this weekend. Tried it out today.

My inflexible shoulders cant get to the zipper to unzip it. So…

Should and what can I fasten to it to make it reachable?

OR

Am I allowed to have a fellow competitor help me unzip it?

2

You can add a pull tab and have someone else pull it down. At least on my Roka, once you open the zipper tab you just pull the shoulders and it unzips.

3

It’s a locking zipper, IIRC.

You will need someone to zip it up for you, but when you’re running into T1, all you do is flip the zipper (up or down, I can’t remember) and pull the shoulders apart. It’s actually WAY easier to remove than a wetsuit.

4

Thanks. I appreciate the info. I’ll have to try on again and practice. Its a roka as well.

Since I borrowed it, I didnt want to use too much force and break/rip anything.

5

also, dental floss is crazy strong. if all else fails, tie a loop of dental floss to the zipper pull and then you may have an easier time reaching it when you get out of the water.

6

Great suggestion. I used some fishing line for my pull loop and a waterman’s knot to tie it off.

7

Flip it up and pull on both sides of the collar. It will come unzipped easy.