Swimming in open water

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Bernard
Hi,

I am training for a 1/4 triathlon: 1500 m swim. I never have swimmed in open water. Will swimming
in open water with a wetsuit delay my time, or will I go faster? What other conditions will I take
in concern?
Note: cause of bad weather conditions in my country. Bernard

If you are not a strong swimmer eg 20-25min 1500m in a pool then a wetsuit will be a hugh help in the open water. Also the fact you can jump on others feet helps again. If you are in the sea you will be more bouyant which is again a help. On race day dont worry about the conditions as everyone has to swim the same course in the same conditions. Good luck

Quoted message said:

"Bernard" <bernard> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>... Hi,

I am training for a 1/4 triathlon: 1500 m swim. I never have swimmed in open water. Will swimming
in open water with a wetsuit delay my time, or will I go faster? What other conditions will I
take in concern?
Note: cause of bad weather conditions in my country. Bernard

It will make the swim easier and faster. The biggest problem with open water swimming is swimming a
straight line. So, if your time is slower than the pool swims, it's not because of the wetsuit
(unless it's a bad fitting wetsuit) but rather because you were swimming crooked.

Learning to spot your course properly and swim straight takes practice. Most swimmers look up
(forward) about every 6-8 strokes. The more strokes between sighting your direction the better -
provided you swam straight between course sightings. On the otherhand, less strokes between sighting
your direction can also be better if it helps you swim straighter. As you can tell, it takes
practice to find the best match between frequency of times you need to look up/forward to sight and
swimming level and fast.

Joe M

I find wetsuits hard to remove and the time shaved in the water doesn't compensate for the time
spent stripping. Time yourself removing a wetsuit and decide for yourself if it is worth it. I'm
cursed/blessed with huge calves and a skinny body so no amount of lubricant is going to make my
wetsuit slip off over the legs easily.

"jkmsg" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Bernard" <bernard> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Hi,

I am training for a 1/4 triathlon: 1500 m swim. I never have swimmed in open water. Will
swimming in open water with a wetsuit delay my time, or will I go faster? What other conditions
will I take in concern?
Note: cause of bad weather conditions in my country. Bernard

It will make the swim easier and faster. The biggest problem with open water swimming is swimming
a straight line. So, if your time is slower than the pool swims, it's not because of the wetsuit
(unless it's a bad fitting wetsuit) but rather because you were swimming crooked.

Learning to spot your course properly and swim straight takes practice. Most swimmers look up
(forward) about every 6-8 strokes. The more strokes between sighting your direction the better -
provided you swam straight between course sightings. On the otherhand, less strokes between
sighting your direction can also be better if it helps you swim straighter. As you can tell, it
takes practice to find the best match between frequency of times you need to look up/forward to
sight and swimming level and fast.

Joe M

BillX said:

I find wetsuits hard to remove and the time shaved in the water doesn't compensate for the time
spent stripping. Time yourself removing a wetsuit and decide for yourself if it is worth it. I'm
cursed/blessed with huge calves and a skinny body so no amount of lubricant is going to make my
wetsuit slip off over the legs easily.

Try sitting down in the water before you exit (with just enough water to cover your legs) and
pulling the wetsuit off there. The water helps it slip right off.

Mike Tennent "IronPenguin"

"Bernard" <bernard> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi,

Quoted message said:

Will swimming in open water with a wetsuit delay my time, or will

I go

Quoted message said:

faster?

Unless you are an Elite swimmer the wet suit will make you faster. how much depends on your current
level. I am a slug and a wet suit will shave over two minutes off my 1500m time. I will give 30
seconds back to getting out of it. The wet suit is, when allowed, also a nice safety device for a
person not comfortable in open water.

Ken @ Kauai