Before triathlon, I thought of wetsuits as something divers used.
Since triathlon, I’ve thought of wetsuits as a crutch that some triathletes really like to use or must have to complete their swim.
Is there even a wetsuit market for swimmers for purely swim events?
Could more wetsuit manufacturers start showing up at triathlons (even Oly’s/sprints) with their samples for people to try on if they want market share and reduce their returns?
Before triathlon, I thought of wetsuits as something divers used.
Since triathlon, I’ve thought of wetsuits as a crutch that some triathletes really like to use or must have to complete their swim.
Is there even a wetsuit market for swimmers for purely swim events?
Could more wetsuit manufacturers start showing up at triathlons (even Oly’s/sprints) with their samples for people to try on if they want market share and reduce their returns?
We have a whole bunch of open water swimming events here in Victoria, Australia. Over our summer, there’d be a choice of at least 30-40 races you could do, and nearly everyone wears a wetsuit. One event alone attracts up to 4000 competitors each year.
Lot’s of fun…
Before triathlon, I thought of wetsuits as something divers used.
Since triathlon, I’ve thought of wetsuits as a crutch that some triathletes really like to use or must have to complete their swim.
Is there even a wetsuit market for swimmers for purely swim events?
Could more wetsuit manufacturers start showing up at triathlons (even Oly’s/sprints) with their samples for people to try on if they want market share and reduce their returns?
We have a whole bunch of open water swimming events here in Victoria, Australia. Over our summer, there’d be a choice of at least 30-40 races you could do, and nearly everyone wears a wetsuit. One event alone attracts up to 4000 competitors each year.
Lot’s of fun…
Wow, didn’t know that. Can’t think of anything like that here in the US. Water temperature or what drives the wetsuit use?
Before triathlon, I thought of wetsuits as something divers used.
Since triathlon, I’ve thought of wetsuits as a crutch that some triathletes really like to use or must have to complete their swim.
Is there even a wetsuit market for swimmers for purely swim events?
Could more wetsuit manufacturers start showing up at triathlons (even Oly’s/sprints) with their samples for people to try on if they want market share and reduce their returns?
We have a whole bunch of open water swimming events here in Victoria, Australia. Over our summer, there’d be a choice of at least 30-40 races you could do, and nearly everyone wears a wetsuit. One event alone attracts up to 4000 competitors each year.
Lot’s of fun…
That’s interesting. I was talking to a local open water distance swimmer at the pool. He said no one in his group wears a wetsuit. This is up in New England where water temps are pretty cold in spring and fall.
it’s cultural/social… as soon as one of those guys who cares about racing gets beaten in a race by a guy with a wetsuit, the rest of the swim peleton will probably adapt.
Before triathlon, I thought of wetsuits as something divers used.
Since triathlon, I’ve thought of wetsuits as a crutch that some triathletes really like to use or must have to complete their swim.
Is there even a wetsuit market for swimmers for purely swim events?
Could more wetsuit manufacturers start showing up at triathlons (even Oly’s/sprints) with their samples for people to try on if they want market share and reduce their returns?
We have a whole bunch of open water swimming events here in Victoria, Australia. Over our summer, there’d be a choice of at least 30-40 races you could do, and nearly everyone wears a wetsuit. One event alone attracts up to 4000 competitors each year.
Lot’s of fun…
That’s interesting. I was talking to a local open water distance swimmer at the pool. He said no one in his group wears a wetsuit. This is up in New England where water temps are pretty cold in spring and fall.
The guy in the wetsuit cannot beat the guy wearing approved swim gear in official races.
it’s cultural/social… as soon as one of those guys who cares about racing gets beaten in a race by a guy with a wetsuit, the rest of the swim peleton will probably adapt.
Before triathlon, I thought of wetsuits as something divers used.
Since triathlon, I’ve thought of wetsuits as a crutch that some triathletes really like to use or must have to complete their swim.
Is there even a wetsuit market for swimmers for purely swim events?
Could more wetsuit manufacturers start showing up at triathlons (even Oly’s/sprints) with their samples for people to try on if they want market share and reduce their returns?
We have a whole bunch of open water swimming events here in Victoria, Australia. Over our summer, there’d be a choice of at least 30-40 races you could do, and nearly everyone wears a wetsuit. One event alone attracts up to 4000 competitors each year.
Lot’s of fun…
That’s interesting. I was talking to a local open water distance swimmer at the pool. He said no one in his group wears a wetsuit. This is up in New England where water temps are pretty cold in spring and fall.
Before triathlon, I thought of wetsuits as something divers used.
Since triathlon, I’ve thought of wetsuits as a crutch that some triathletes really like to use or must have to complete their swim.
Is there even a wetsuit market for swimmers for purely swim events?
Could more wetsuit manufacturers start showing up at triathlons (even Oly’s/sprints) with their samples for people to try on if they want market share and reduce their returns?
We have a whole bunch of open water swimming events here in Victoria, Australia. Over our summer, there’d be a choice of at least 30-40 races you could do, and nearly everyone wears a wetsuit. One event alone attracts up to 4000 competitors each year.
Lot’s of fun…
Wow, didn’t know that. Can’t think of anything like that here in the US. Water temperature or what drives the wetsuit use?
Water temperature has a fair bit to do with it - before January, the temp doesn’t get to 20deg C (68F), and outside our bay, I don’t think it reaches 20 all summer. I’m OK with that, but for many people, that’s a bit cool. By the ‘eye test’, I’d say 90+% of people wear suits, from the front of the field to the back.
Everyone’s aware of the speed factor, as well.
I mean, it’s pretty obvious that the speed/buoyancy advantage drives the use of wetsuits in triathlon. I don’t get the “wetsuits are a crutch, blah blah blah” argument. Maybe, for some, they do need a wetsuit to even finish. But for myself and many others, its the advantage. That’s like showing up to a time trial and complaining because you see too many deep dish wheels and aero helmets. It’s part of the sport.
Just go to California. I went to Imperial beach early in the morning and a whole bunch of people wearing wet suits and surfing. I would say well over 100 people. Could be made with different material but wet suit market was right there. I also went to Coronado beach and same thing. A lot of people surfing wearing wet suits.
We have a decent amount of OW swim only events in the UK. Some are Non-wetsuit (channel rules), some are mandatory wetsuit (for safety / beginners / water temp reasons), others are a choice with different rankings for Wetduit/Skins.
Some a loops round lakes, some end to end of large lakes, seas swims, rivers all sorts.
I don’t think they are as a big or as plentiful as triathlons but there is still a good chunk of events with participants well into the hundreds in most events
I mean, it’s pretty obvious that the speed/buoyancy advantage drives the use of wetsuits in triathlon. I don’t get the “wetsuits are a crutch, blah blah blah” argument. Maybe, for some, they do need a wetsuit to even finish. But for myself and many others, its the advantage. That’s like showing up to a time trial and complaining because you see too many deep dish wheels and aero helmets. It’s part of the sport.
There is a big difference between wetsuits and aero equipment. Aero equipment **reduce **drag, wetsuits **increase **buoyancy. Wetsuits are more akin to adding a motor to your bike, it increases power.
Just go to California. I went to Imperial beach early in the morning and a whole bunch of people wearing wet suits and surfing. I would say well over 100 people. Could be made with different material but wet suit market was right there. I also went to Coronado beach and same thing. A lot of people surfing wearing wet suits.
Surfing, windsufring, kitesurfing, etc. wetsuits are different than swimming wetsuits - you don’t need the same shoulder flexibility and buoyancy. As far as I recall from my surfing days its not same companies making these suits. So not really applicable to the OP question
I mean, it’s pretty obvious that the speed/buoyancy advantage drives the use of wetsuits in triathlon. I don’t get the “wetsuits are a crutch, blah blah blah” argument. Maybe, for some, they do need a wetsuit to even finish. But for myself and many others, its the advantage. That’s like showing up to a time trial and complaining because you see too many deep dish wheels and aero helmets. It’s part of the sport.
There is a big difference between wetsuits and aero equipment. Aero equipment **reduce **drag, wetsuits **increase **buoyancy. Wetsuits are more akin to adding a motor to your bike, it increases power.
How does any of that change the end result though? You can buy speed. Whether it’s aero, or buoyancy, it’s the same end result. Equipment makes you faster.
There’s a lot of open water swims in the US from events that attract 50 athletes to races that have well over 1500 participants. On the East Coast during the summer there are multiple events every weekend within driving distance. The open water swim community typically frowns upon wetsuit use. Wetsuits for diving and surfing are different from ones for triathlon. FINA just approved the use of wetsuits in international competition. Some of it was out of safety concerns, wetsuit optional starts around 69 degrees, but the he majority of the decision was financial.
Tim
That’s actually a great question. Yes there are a ton of OW swim events, even pro ones(as very cold temps) that allow wetsuits. But I believe that push came from triathlon. We made the wetsuit normal, we made it great, and we made it fast. All that pressure spilled over to OW swimming, a sport that actually had a rule against them, and was militant about it.
It is kind of like aero bars, we had them years before cyclists, but at some point, they just couldn’t ignore them and the advantage they provided. Had we not been around as a sport, not sure if cyclists would even be using them today. It really was a stodgy and set in stone sport. They might have index shifting, maybe clip less pedals, and now electronic shifting, but those are all improvements on what existed before. Aero bars were alien to them, and even when they were proved to be a huge benefit, a lot went kicking and screaming over the next couple decades.
And wetsuits were really pioneered for surfing, along with diving. And funny to note that surfing wetsuits have gotten a lot more like triathlon wetsuits over the years, guess even surfers like a nice fit that is comfortable. Those suits I wore in the 60’s and 70’s were pretty horrible, but they somewhat worked, and no one knew any difference…
How does any of that change the end result though? You can buy speed. Whether it’s aero, or buoyancy, it’s the same end result. Equipment makes you faster.
So, you’d be ok with people bringing e-bikes to your next race, because, they just make them faster like aerobars?
I have to agree for me its about the speed benefit. I was told if its legal use it. Like a disc wheel if its legal use it. Heard some guys talking trash about how people need the crutch last night at the local tri and that could be true but I know I do not need it for that. I use it for the benefits (speed, less energy expended)
How does any of that change the end result though? You can buy speed. Whether it’s aero, or buoyancy, it’s the same end result. Equipment makes you faster.
So, you’d be ok with people bringing e-bikes to your next race, because, they just make them faster like aerobars?
Huh? Are you trying to debate the validity of using wetsuits at all?
Huh? Are you trying to debate the validity of using wetsuits at all?
No, just pointing out that the speed advantage of wetsuits if fundamentally different than that of aero equipment, etc.
Swimskins are a swimming analog of aerobars, since they only reduce drag.
I think wetsuits are overused. And definitely should not be thought of as any kind of safety equipment. They won’t keep your face out of the water if you go unconscious.
78-76 degrees is pool temperature, the cutoff should be lowered significantly. (maybe with some leeway for IM distance races and 60+ age groups). It would probably be good to take in account the air temp etc. So a borderline water temp would still be no wetsuits if it’s going to be 80+ degrees out, similarly, if it’s 50 and raining, maybe allow wetsuits.
I started triathlons before wetsuits were used/allowed. I did a shortened swim (1 mile vs 1.2 mile in Santa Barbara) and barely made it out of the water with hypothermia. Wetsuits made a lot of venues available for safe swims.
Yes, they add an advantage, but the safety advantage out weighs the speed gains.