What to wear for Kona swim?

Triathlon Forum
1

I noticed a lot of people wearing those suits from Speedo and TYR during the swim.

Does anyone have feedback with wearing one of these over their shorts and top?

Thanks in advance.

2

What are you expecting for a swim time? Past history?

3

there was a discussion on this here that may help: http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=456374;search_string=kona%20swim%20tyr;#456374
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4

What are you expecting for a swim time? Past history?
Does it matter? I have been sub 50 in Hawaii a few times.

5

Sure does … if you are swimming sub :50 and extra minute+ matters i’d wear one of the tyr or speedo suits … Mark Allen said it was worth at least 50-60sec for him when he was one of the first to wear onein 1995 … that 50-60sec makes a big difference which group he came out with. (good mental edge too;)

I also think it makes T1 easy to deal with … speed suit off, race kit already on - just add helmet and shoes!

I don’t think it matters for those with lesser form.

Have a great race!

6

You should see if you can get a Speedo rep to discuss benefits of their fastskin suits for longer swims and ocean swims. I have been told that the suits are best for shorter races and should be dry at the start. Also, they have a limited life span. I was told that at the Olympics the swimmers would warm up and then dry off and put on a completely dry fast skin suit. Apparently the air in the suit has something to do with the suits water shedding qualities. That said–if you think it makes you swim faster than you should use it.

7

I swam in college just when the fastskins were coming out. They are meant to be worn for a short period of time. There was even debate surrounding whether or not they should be worn for the 1650y or 1500m. Most distance swimmers did not wear anything more than a jammer (ie the shorts). If you shave your body, you will likely not notice any difference between the fastskin and no fastskin. It is definitely not anything like a wetsuit in terms of improving your swim. The wetsuit seems to benefit good swimmers around 3-7 seconds per hundred and poor swimmers upwards to 10+ seconds per hundred. The fastskin “might” help you .1 seconds per hundred: a whopping 4.2 seconds for the race. If you already have one, then maybe, if not then just shave the body. I would say best case you improve 5 seconds with the fastskin, worst case you don’t like it or get too hot or or you don’t like it covering your arms and you start thinking negative thoughts and go like 5 minutes slower.

8

I have a TYR Aquashift knee-john (like a 1-piece tri suit) that I’ve tried wearing over a regular tri suit. I don’t think it makes any difference in my swim speed… Maybe it does a bit but it’s gotta be pretty damn minor, hell some of my worst swims have been in it. Transition penalty is quick, under 10 seconds, probably 5-7 seconds to get it off. I’m tempted to wear it the whole race but it’s pretty tight across my chest and quads and with a back zip it’s not like you can zip open the chest while running. Plus the price, I got it through a hook up so I didn’t pay for it but it’s like $280! Speedo does have a really nice line of new Fastskin suits coming out, and that I may consider.

9

i would go with some togs myself.

10

Wearing a speed suit of some sort won’t slow you down, it may even make yo a little faster. When I wore one a few years ago in open water swims I felt it made me slipperier in the water. If anything, move coverage will give your skin one less hour of sun during a very long day.

Have fun at Ironman…it’s been beautiful weather but I’ve heard it’s been windier than usual up north (and that’s coming from local athletes). Don’t freak out though, it changes daily and one can not predict the winds at all.