I know this will generate plenty of arguments but these are just my opinions:
If the rules say that flotation devices are not allowed then why are wetsuits legal in 78 degree water? What is the difference between wearing a wetsuit and paddeling a surfboard in warm water ? It cracks me up to hear people talk about overheating in their wetsuits but they wear them anyway. The rule should change the temperature to 72 degrees. Let’s face it, you are in no danger of suffering from hypothermia in water warmer than 72 degrees. Originally wetsuits were worn for safety(hypothermia) reasons but now the whole idea is to make the swim easier. For those who can’t swim without them there are duathlons one can enter.
By the way I am all for wetsuits in colder water but I think the rules are too lax and dampen the purity of the sport. Maybe the race directors want to decrease their liabilities and so they frequently fudge the temperature readings.
I’m gonna go ahead and disagree for these reasons:
I sell wetsuits and profit from their sale.
I don’t like even moderately cold water.
I’m a poor swimmer and want the performance benefits of a wetsuit.
Wetsuits reduce race director’s liability by making the swim somewhat safer.
Wetsuits make the sport easier for entry level athletes since the primary concern of entry level athletes is the swim.
It seems to me there is much more difference paddling a surfboard (which is still pretty hard) and swimming in a wetsuit than there is swimming with a wetsuit and without one.
I totally agree. The USAT rule should be changed to 72F. For the liability issue (and for Tom D ;-), keep the rule that says you can still wear one up to 84F(!!!), but if you do, you are not eligible for awards.
I have to agree with Tom’s arguements on this. As a newbie who did duathlons last year, I am scared to death of the swim. I want the security the wetsuit provides. My body fat is low and I float like a brick. i need the suit or I am not getting out there.
Hell, here in Hawaii, race directors outlaw wetsuits by “fudging” the temp reading on the high side… guess they like the simplicity of no wetsuits…
You would have enjoyed being at the Ironman Australia race brief when they announced that wetsuits wouldn’t be allowed. The “non-swimmers” just about fainted. Yeah, I was one of them. But I think everybody made the swim cutoff just fine and the swim was pretty enjoyable after awhile.
well, most wetsuit races are early or later in the year as the water is cooler then. If a director says no suits…revenue is down as people wont do it. Granted the hardcore still would, and that would give you what you want, a swimmers race. Lets face it, the way tri is swimming just dosent matter.(unless your ITU…gotta catch the train) As for people that dont like cold water moving on to du’s…how bout the “real” swimmers moving into masters swimming. In fact, charleston harbor has a 2.4 coming up in a few weeks.
btw…swimming is my strength…run…weak!
78 degrees is when they’re outlawed. this has been the subject of long and thorough discussions and examinations. you’re entering the discussion a decade too late. the issues are not simply temp, but salt v fresh water, and the effect on young v old, and distance of the race. the main reason 78 was used for AGers (72 for pros) is the age factor. old people get cold easier and in warmer temps than young people, all other things equal, and this is exacerbated as the swim distance increases.
i suspect we’ll have the usual alternative views expressed, “old people suck,” and “rules that appeal to the lowest common denominator,” and “not fair to those who’ve taken the time to learn to swim,” and so forth, but the fact remains these arguments and more have had their days in court prior to the rules having been set.