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USA Triathlon adjusts wetsuit rule
I’ve always hated the wetsuit rule.
Under USA Triathlon regulations, competitors can wear wetsuits if the water temperature at a race is 78 degrees or cooler. (They can still wear wetsuits if the water is above 78, but if they do they’re not eligible for awards. Besides, they’ll probably pass out from heat exhaustion.)
The problem is this: Wetsuits provide flotation, and an unfair advantage to poor swimmers. Swimmers with bad form get more of an advantage — up to 15 percent — from the added buoyancy a wetsuit provides than swimmers who already have good form.
Wetsuits artificially level the playing field, and that’s unfair. A triathlon should be contested based on athletic skill, not equipment.
I say this as someone who wears a wetsuit while swimming maintenance laps at Barton Springs Pool because I get cold easily. But when I race, I don’t think about the cold. Or I ignore it.
I laughed the other morning when I read that USA Triathlon announced that starting in 2013, it wouldn’t allow wetsuits any thicker than 5 mm at its events.
Five millimeters? That’s like wearing a Michelin Man suit! Anything thicker than that and you might as well have helium balloons tethered to your body.
The rule, according to a press release from USA Triathlon, is designed to eliminate any competitive advantage gained by enhancements in wetsuit technology in recent years.
“Studies have shown there is a marked and measurable performance benefit to the use of certain wetsuits, specifically added buoyancy effectively reducing passive drag,” the release stated. “These performance benefits have led to an increased, and artificially induced, reduction in physical demand required during the swim leg of a triathlon and an increase in speed.”
It’s a step in the right direction, but USAT should go farther. Don’t allow wetsuits unless the water is 68 degrees or colder.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment Categories: Triathlon
Comments
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By Woody Endsley
June 26, 2010 9:28 AM | Link to this
I think you are being a bit high handed about wetsuits giving a poor swimmmer an unfair advantage. These poor swimmers (including myself) are not going to win anything, they only want to participate. Everyone can wear them so it seems the “advantage” is null. If you want to argue unfair equipment advantages how about those ultra technical very expensive bikes. Those are not within reach of the average Joe or Jill’s reach. If you want to remove equipment advantages I guess everyone could swim naked, run barefooted and all get on the same Schwin one speed bike.
I am disappointed that you are starting to adopt a bit of an elist attidue Pam. Next you will be in the camp that says people who run 5 hour marathoners are not really marathoners.
By Robert Lindquist
June 28, 2010 10:16 AM | Link to this
I totally agree with the comment by one of your readers that you are high-handed in your opinions about wetsuits. It’s really easy for you, being a great natural swimmer, to say to exclude wetsuits until it’s below 68 degrees, shoot why stop there, why not go to 50 degrees or 32 degrees; I guess 68 is where you get cold since flotation isn’t a factor for you, and we know it’s all about YOU!
I also agree with his biking analogy and the high tech bikes now-a-days. Besides the bikes themselves and their cost, they should eliminate the pedals where your shoes are secured into the pedals along with disallowing wetsuits. I know of one guy who is scared to death he won’t be able to clip out and just fall to the ground so he wears his running shoes and the old style cages on the pedals, are you getting an unfair advantage on him and others who do the same?
Come on Pam; get off your self-centered egotistical horse where you believe so long as it’s good for you it’s the way it should be. I think a 2 mm wetsuit at any temperature would give us not-so-great swimmers the confidence to just complete the swim portion of a triathlon…you won’t ever have to worry about me catching you in the swim leg but you had better get on that bike fast and run hard or I just may catch you even if I am over 60 years old! See you in the buff at the next event, as Woody recommended so no one gets any advantage whatsoever in the swim, bike or run, make sure you use lots of sunscreen though, will that still be legal under YOUR rules!?
By Robert Lindquist
June 28, 2010 10:21 AM | Link to this
I totally agree with the comment by one of your readers that you are high-handed in your opinions about wetsuits. It’s really easy for you, being a great natural swimmer, to say to exclude wetsuits until it’s below 68 degrees, shoot why stop there, why not go to 50 degrees or 32 degrees; I guess 68 is where you get cold since the flotation isn’t a factor for you, and we know it’s all about YOU!
I also agree with his biking analogy and the high tech bike now-a-days. Besides the bikes themselves and their cost, they should eliminate the pedals where your shoes are secured into the pedals along with the wetsuits…according to you! I know of one guy who is scared to death he won’t be able to clip out and just fall to the ground so he wears his running shoes and cages on the pedals, are you getting an unfair advantage on him and others who do the same?
Come on Pam; get off your self-centered egotistical high-horse where you believe so long as it’s good for you it’s the way it should be. I think a 2 mm wetsuit at any temperature would give us not great swimmers the confidence to just complete the swim portion of a triathlon…you won’t ever have to worry about me catching you in the swim leg but you had better get on that bike fast and run hard or I just may catch you even if I am over 60 years old! See you in the buff at the next event so no one gets any advantage whatsoever in the swim, bike or run, make sure you use lots of sunscreen though, will that still be legal under YOUR rules?.
By pam leblanc
June 28, 2010 10:48 AM | Link to this
Hi Robert and Woody. First, I’d hate to discourage anyone from competing in any triathlon. I’m a really slow runner (I’ve written before about how I disagree with those who say slow marathon runners shouldn’t be allowed on the course). I’m not at all biased against athletes who take longer in any event. What I’m saying is level the playing field. I’m not going to win a triathlon or a marathon, no matter what equipment I’m using. I still think the wetsuit rule gives some folks more of an advantage than others; that’s what I think is unfair. As for those naked races … not a bad idea! That would be sport at its most pure. Pam
By Ryan
June 29, 2010 3:29 PM | Link to this
Pam - I’m in the middle on wetsuits. They are just a piece of equipment and a tool for the athlete. Yes they provide buoyancy, but similarly a road bike is more efficient in a triathalon than my mountain bike.
I stopped competing in tri’s before these were mainstream thankfully. I’m personally not a fan. If you’re training for a race in truly cold water, by all means use a wetsuit and get used to the feel. Otherwise, the water’s just not that cold in Barton Springs, and the swims aren’t that long short of Ironman distances. Where are all these swimmers during the winter when it’s actually chilly outside?
And for the haters - disagree respectfully. We all benefit from someone writing on Fitness and events in and around Austin. Thanks Pam - I enjoy the columns, Tweets, and giveaways.
By Laura
July 1, 2010 1:11 PM | Link to this
I am also in the middle on the wetsuit (and speed suit) rule. Although I agree that the wetsuits do NOT need to be more than 5mm thick, I do not agree that they shouldn’t be allowed in water above 68 degrees. That’s darn cold! I swam in Town Lake when it was around 70 and I was freezing, so thank God for the wetsuit! I think they should keep the temperature rule the same.
This is where I disagree with the wetsuit and speed suit rule. USAT claims that these suits give triathletes an unfair advantage, so they are cracking down on suits. So what about the other things that give atheletes an advantage? They’re not doing anything about aero helmets, disk wheels, or carbon fiber bikes are they? They aren’t taking away EZ laces or Zoot race shoes. So why take away wetsuits and speed suits? There’s always going to be things that make an athlete better and faster— these are just one.
Thanks for the update Pam, love your column!
By Mike
July 10, 2010 6:20 PM | Link to this
I just finished a two mile swim in crystal lake up by chicago. The water was more than warm enough to swim without a suit but I was one of only ten or so men to not wear a wetsuit. I’m a pretty good swimmer but this was my first two mile distance. I’ll tell you what, their was definitely great advantages for those in the suits, especially at this distance. I agree with pam 100%. I mean if their gonna give people the option in water that was the perfect temp for swimming, why not let me strap a small minkota trolling motor to my *** and pass all of them. If your gonna cheat why compete?
By Megan
August 4, 2010 9:15 AM | Link to this
Oh come on. Triathlon is supposed to be a challenge, it is an athletic event. Why is everyone so damn spoiled in thinking that they need every advantage to make it easier and artifically faster. Remeber back in the day when athletes used to look for events that were hard, and hilly and would challenge them to do their best. Now it’s all about fluff and if the majority of participants would have it their way it would be indoor conditions. Hey I’m not a very good biker comparatively, can we even the playing field for me too? Maybe I could tie just a little motor onto me and help me out. And than on the run could you fan me down please, it gets a little hot.
By Greg
August 16, 2010 9:34 AM | Link to this
This summer I competed in the Philly Sprint Triathlon where Derek Valentino a father of two lost his life during the swim. Earlier that morning the race director announced that they would not be allowing wetsuits due to high water temperatures.
Outside triathlon, wetsuits are regarded as something someone puts on in order to stay warm in cold water. Inside triathlon, we know wetsuits are used for much more than to just stay warm.
It is undeniable that technology impacts performance. Whether it is an ultralight aero triathlon bike, compression socks, nutritional supplements or a wetsuit, if you spend the money and have the better technology you will go faster with than you would have without. Just ask Lance Armstrong, Jose Canseco, or Michael Phelps. There needs to be a conversation about the impact technology is having on triathlon, but the most important conversation isn’t about competitive advantage, it is about safety.
That morning when Derek lost his life, I heard athlete after athlete say “but I can’t swim without my wetsuit.” The fact is people use wetsuits because they provide buoyancy and buoyancy provides a false sense of security. The rules need to be looked at, but not what thickness of wetsuit should be allowed, but rather at what water temperature triathlons should not be allowed. Wetsuits should never be allowed in competition. It has nothing to do with competitive advantage or the playing field being leveled and everything to do with safety.
By CK
August 20, 2010 2:49 PM | Link to this
Triathlon is not a right. It’s a privledge. I spend 10 hrs a week in the pool and for it I go sub 50 for 2.4 miles no wet suit. I wear a wetsuit and drop 2 minutes while someone who spends 2 hrs a week in the pool drops 17 minutes for 2.4 How is that fair for me? I say ban the wetsuits all together and only allow a .75 mm speedsuit to cover your tri kit. If you can’t swim without 5mm neoprene then maybe you are a duathlete. Try swimming more rather than trying to average 23mph on the bike.
You have my support on this one Pam.
By Grayson
November 23, 2010 9:27 AM | Link to this
The gun goes off. The first wave storms into the water like a pack of wildebeests attempting the cross of Crocodile River. Nineteen minutes later the first swimmer is arriving on shore to race through T1. Oh wait, who is the first swimmer? There is a massive group coming into transition all at once! What’s this? The entire wave is finishing the swim together! What an even matched field we’ve got here today! Its must be those wetsuits…
Do your math. I guarantee you the range between the 10th fastest swimmer and the 10th slowest swimmer is nearly the same for any triathlon, wetsuit legal or non.
By Jim
November 23, 2010 9:28 AM | Link to this
The gun goes off. The first wave storms into the water like a pack of wildebeests attempting the cross of Crocodile River. Nineteen minutes later the first swimmer is arriving on shore to race through T1. Oh wait, who is the first swimmer? There is a massive group coming into transition all at once! What’s this? The entire wave is finishing the swim together! What an even matched field we’ve got here today! Its must be those wetsuits…
Do your math. I guarantee you the range between the 10th fastest swimmer and the 10th slowest swimmer is nearly the same for any triathlon, wetsuit legal or non.
By Grayson
November 23, 2010 9:30 AM | Link to this
The gun goes off. The first wave storms into the water like a pack of wildebeests attempting the cross of Crocodile River. Nineteen minutes later the first swimmer is arriving on shore to race through T1. Oh wait, who is the first swimmer? There is a massive group coming into transition all at once! What’s this? The entire wave is finishing the swim together! What an even matched field we’ve got here today! Its must be those wetsuits…
Do your math. I guarantee you the range between the 10th fastest swimmer and the 10th slowest swimmer is nearly the same for any triathlon, wetsuit legal or non.