Inspired to write this after another thread about wetsuit fit.
For cold water: wetsuits are required for obvious reasons. For warm water: wetsuits are banned for obvious reasons.
In between water is a game where we pretend it’s not 100% about buoyancy, so we have a stupid rule where at some magic number you can wear a wetsuit but your results don’t count. What a fucking joke.
Its not an unfair advantage if it were just legal for everyone. It just creates anxiety for weaker swimmers and most people pick races based on the predicted swim temperature.
And before someone chimes in that I just need to learn to swim better, explain to me why we don’t ban TT bikes or carbon plated shoes based on the air temperature or wind or elevation profile of the bike/run course. just learn to run better
EDIT:
To clarify the wetsuit rule, because I dont think everyone fully understands it, there are 4 ranges:
Very Cold: Wetsuit mandatory
Cold to Tepid: Wetsuit Legal (optional) and your results count
Tepid to Warm: Wetsuit Optional and your results dont count ← MY BEEF
Very Warm: Wetsuits Banned
I don’t get the objection. Do you think we should have no rule at all - so everyone can choose whether to wear a wetsuit no matter what the temperature? Or, do you think there should just be a single stated temperature where wetsuits become required?
It seems totally fine to me. By having stated temperatures, we have an even playing field for all racers.
Was at the pool this morning and can confirm that water is still wet, though this is a small sample size and more data is likely needed to achieve a 95% confidence interval.
Use of TT bikes and carbon super shoes is not analogous to use of wetsuits at all, because use of those bikes and shoes have nothing to do with weather/temperature. Infact, use of TT bikes in triathlons makes perfect obvious sense when drafting is illegal.
don’t get the objection. Do you think we should have no rule at all - so everyone can choose whether to wear a wetsuit no matter what the temperature?
The objection is with not counting my results if I choose to wear a wetsuit in 76.2F water, but 76F water counts. As long as it’s not too warm for safety, everyone should be allowed to choose a wetsuit and their results should count.
And before someone chimes in that I just need to learn to swim better, explain to me why we don’t ban TT bikes or carbon plated shoes based on the air temperature or wind or elevation profile of the bike/run course. just learn to run better
Because TT bikes and carbon shoes don’t present an additional safety risk in varying environmental conditions.
Use of TT bikes and carbon super shoes is not analogous to use of wetsuits at all, because use of those bikes and shoes have nothing to do with weather/temperature. Infact, use of TT bikes in triathlons makes perfect obvious sense when drafting is illegal.
I agree with your take on TT bikes and carbon shoes. My point is that the wetsuit rule in the optional temperature range has nothing to do with weather/temperature or safety either… Therefore it is analogous.
As an outsider to the swim part, it looks from my view they wrote themselves into a problem in the rule book on this one. Personal opinion. As, since they let you do it but don’t count the time it would be like a local race going “old school” and only doing road bikes but allowing TT bikes but not counting the times for official finishing places.
So I do see the OP’s point.
Other joke IMO is US based race groups saying you have to have a CPSC helmet but then allowing for exemptions for pros that their sponsors dictate the helmet. And then “because UCI event” for USAC or “because pro and exemption” for triathlon…you can use them. The Met TT helmets and the Aeroswitch are illegal for amateurs that cannot obtain the exemption but legal for pros that can. Stupid AF. If they’re actually unsafe, then zero exemptions.
I guess the water temp thing might be the deciding factor even for that “in between” in that it would allow a pool swimmer not adjusted to open water coolness to still do a race without the official time. Whereas nobody is going to not race because of their shoes or bike when it’s cold versus hot.
Was at the pool this morning and can confirm that water is still wet, though this is a small sample size and more data is likely needed to achieve a 95% confidence interval.
Ironically, wetsuits actually do make the water “less wet”, in a way.
“Figure 2: Wetting of different fluids: A shows a fluid with very little wetting, while C shows a fluid with more wetting. A has a large contact angle, and C has a small contact angle.”
“most people pick races based on the predicted swim temperature.” While I am sure there are some, I don’t any that choose a race based on water temperature. This would be an interesting poll.
"but your results don’t count. What a fucking joke." Who cares if your results count or not. Unless you are going to podium or Kona, in which case you are most likely a decent swimmer, who cares.
For the record I have never owned or wore a wetsuit, being a decent swimmer they give my competition a competitive advantage, but since I am not Kona material I’m indifferent as they do open the sport to a broader base.
…it would be like a local race going “old school” and only doing road bikes but allowing TT bikes but not counting the times for official finishing places.
Are you in contention to win the race or podium or KQ? If yes, follow the rules.
If no, wear your wetsuit. Your results will count. You just won’t contend for overall and AG awards.
