Hello,
I have never done a Ironman swim without a wetsuit.
In Hawaii a wetsuit is likely to be forbidden.
So I’m thinking, do I need to buy a swimskin/swimsuit? Or do I swim in my tri-suit? Or do I swim in only a jammer?
Any tip is welcome. I have no idea what to do.
At this moment I’m thinking of just swimming in my tri-suit.
Regards,
Roflpain
Definitely no wetsuit. Never is.
Most swim with swim skins with tri suit under. Tri suit is fine as well. Save your jammers for swimming out to the espresso boat during the week prior to the race!
Have fun!
I wore a swimskin and even that was hot. I did have issues with chaffing especially on practice swims so take that into account and that may change what you do( wearing trisuit in full underneath vs rolling it down and then putting it up). Swimskin is faster but the most important part if temp control as if you get hot you cant cool down in kona. Even if legal which it wont be, i would never wear a wetsuit. Salt water does make you more bouyant too.
“In Hawaii a wetsuit is likely to be forbidden”
Likely?
“In Hawaii a wetsuit is likely to be forbidden”
Likely?
like·ly (līk′lē)
adj. like·li·er, like·li·est
**1. **Possessing or displaying the qualities or characteristics that make something probable: They are likely to become angry with him. See Usage Note at liable.
**2. **Within the realm of credibility; plausible: not a very likely excuse.
**3. **Apparently appropriate or suitable: There were several likely candidates for the job.
**4. **Apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome; promising: a likely topic for investigation.
**5. **Attractive; pleasant: found a likely spot under a shady tree for the picnic.
adv.
Probably: They’ll likely buy a new car soon.
I think Jim means you should know better. It’s not likely it’s 100% certainty.
I highly recommend doing some course recon and watching some past races on YouTube.
I have never done a Ironman swim without a wetsuit.
In Hawaii a wetsuit is likely to be forbidden.
So I’m thinking, do I need to buy a swimskin/swimsuit? Or do I swim in my tri-suit? Or do I swim in only a jammer?
Any tip is welcome. I have no idea what to do.
At this moment I’m thinking of just swimming in my tri-suit.At Kona wearing a wetsuit will be prohibited (no “likely” about it).
No, you do not need to buy a swimskin. Have you explored the speed advantage a swimskin will offer? If not: explore that. Do you care to complete the swim 100 seconds (say) quicker weighed against being a bit warm(er) in the water but lose time removing it?
I like what you’re thinkin’ (last line).
I think Jim means you should know better. It’s not likely it’s 100% certainty.
I highly recommend doing some course recon and watching some past races on YouTube.
I know. Just posted a stupid answer on a stupid question.
At Kona wearing a wetsuit will be prohibited (no “likely” about it).
No, you do not need to buy a swimskin. Have you explored the speed advantage a swimskin will offer? If not: explore that. Do you care to complete the swim 100 seconds (say) quicker weighed against being a bit warm(er) in the water but lose time removing it?
I like what you’re thinkin’ (last line).
I read somewhere it is not much faster, true.
I thought, and sorry, that under 24 water temperature a wetsuit might be allowed.
I don’t know what weather it is every year. It is always very hot and very humid but maybe once in 5 or 10 years it is just normal weather like 25 degrees and the water will be colder.
It is my first time in Hawaii and I just know I can go since 2 weaks so I need to learn quick and sometimes if I don’t find the answer on mr google I come here where all the smart people are 
IM in Kona has its own rules. No wetsuit. Ever. Doesn’t matter what the temp is on race day. That’s a well known rule, and I would think anyone that is a pretty elite racer and has qualified to race in Kona knows it. And I’m not the only one surprised you don’t know that, as you can see from the comments.
Bring a swimskin along. Practice in it and see if it is helpful for you or not.
Suprise suprise …
Even though you will need to buy it before race day, you should still be able to get a slight discount on swimskin at the expo. Roka is usually down by the pier leading up to race day lending out goggles and swim skins to try in the mornings.
While we are on the subject on Kona rules you may not know, disc wheels are not allowed either. And don’t take a bike or vehicle into the Energy Lab prior to race day as they threaten to DQ people who do that. Running is fine.
I thought that under 24 water temperature a wetsuit might be allowed.
I don’t know what weather it is every year. It is always very hot and very humid but maybe once in 5 or 10 years it is just normal weather like 25 degrees and the water will be colder.
https://www.seatemperature.org/north-america/united-states/hawaii/
Like others have said, you definitely won’t be wearing a wetsuit. Several threads on Slowtwitch and reputable websites show gains of 2-3 seconds per 100 yards or meters. I am a slow swimmer, swimming 40+ mins for a no-wetsuit half ironman. I gained at least three seconds per hundred meters in pool swimming tests with a TYR swim skin back in 2013-2015. A minute was important to me then, but not now. You’ll probably gain two minutes at best at the full distance. Just decide if it’s worth the spend. If not, swim in your triathlon suit.
“In Hawaii a wetsuit is likely to be forbidden”
Likely?
In Hawaii a disc wheel will likely be forbidden too…
.
Hello,
I have never done a Ironman swim without a wetsuit.
In Hawaii a wetsuit is** likely** to be forbidden.
So I’m thinking, do I need to buy a swimskin/swimsuit? Or do I swim in my tri-suit? Or do I swim in only a jammer?
Any tip is welcome. I have no idea what to do.
At this moment I’m thinking of just swimming in my tri-suit.
Regards,
Roflpain
Yup…very likely
Sorry, couldn’t resist, and I am aware I am about the fourth one to make the joke but it is just funny to read the “likely” there.
I recently tested a swim skin in the pool and it was just about 1s/100 m faster than tri suit (yeah yeah…n=1, bro-science etc.) Which is likely me swimming faster because the skin “feels fast”.