Jetski Wetsuit better than no wetsuit? - Triathlon Week

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

This weekend I will be doing a tri featuring a 60 degree lake. The
swim is only 1/4 mile, but this is my first official tri and I am not
yet as strong of a swimmer as I would like to be. Am I better off
using a wetsuit meant for jetskiing/surfing than no wetsuit at all? I
have no trouble swimming in the suit, and I like the extra buoyancy,
but I am afraid that it will slow me down. Anyone have any experience
with using a non-tri wetsuit??

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

In article <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> ,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Happy Marmot) wrote:

> This weekend I will be doing a tri featuring a 60 degree lake. The
> swim is only 1/4 mile, but this is my first official tri and I am not
> yet as strong of a swimmer as I would like to be. Am I better off
> using a wetsuit meant for jetskiing/surfing than no wetsuit at all? I
> have no trouble swimming in the suit, and I like the extra buoyancy,
> but I am afraid that it will slow me down. Anyone have any experience
> with using a non-tri wetsuit??

Swimming in a surfing wetsuit is tiring, but I could do it for a 1/4
mile. However, swimming in 60-degree water can be downright dangerous. I
could swim 1/4-mile in 60-degree water without a wetsuit, but I wouldn't
enjoy it, and I think it would make my shoulders and chest tight enough
that it would slow me down.

I guess a lot of it depends on how well you do in cold water. If you're
at all unsure, wear the wetsuit.

They tell me the water in the lake for my race this weekend is 74. I
won't be wearing a wetsuit.

--Harold Buck

"I used to rock and roll all night,
and party every day.
Then it was every other day. . . ."
-Homer J. Simpson

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

Is it sleeveless? if so- definitely use it-

if it has sleeves ( full or short), and you are worried it is not flexible
enough ( it just might be-),
since this is just a 1/4 mile, just pull the sleeves up towards your body a
lot, to the point where the neoprene is bunching up a little around the
shoulder area. this should ensure that you at least have good range of motion
in your shoulders. if you can test it out first, great, if not, you will be
fine-
just do this before the race start, do some dryland warmups with your arms to
make sure they can spin as usual-
I used an old two-piece, french made, 60s -style jacques cousteau-style diving
suit many years ago- man was it terrible. but who was I to know? and there was
no way I would swim sans in 60-degrees. wear it!
good luck

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

I use an o'neil multi sport suit made for surfing, wind surfing etc. This
will be my third season in this suit. It fits me well, and I have never worn
a specific tri suit, so I have nothing to compare it to.

I would take Tim's advice and make sure to pull the legs and arm up a bit to
make sure you have sufficient range in motion. If you get hooked on this
sport, you could pick up a tri specific suit later. I would definitely
recommend wearing it. The extra buoyancy will help a bit. Just try it and
have fun.

Jim

"Happy Marmot" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].edu> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] m...
> This weekend I will be doing a tri featuring a 60 degree lake. The
> swim is only 1/4 mile, but this is my first official tri and I am not
> yet as strong of a swimmer as I would like to be. Am I better off
> using a wetsuit meant for jetskiing/surfing than no wetsuit at all? I
> have no trouble swimming in the suit, and I like the extra buoyancy,
> but I am afraid that it will slow me down. Anyone have any experience
> with using a non-tri wetsuit??

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

It is a short sleeve and is a little loose on me, so I have good
shoulder movement. I will have to try it, even if it slows me down,
at least I won't turn blue and sink to the bottom of the lake:-)

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]ade (Timote) wrote in message

news:<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com>...
> Is it sleeveless? if so- definitely use it-
>
>
> if it has sleeves ( full or short), and you are worried it is not flexible
> enough ( it just might be-),
> since this is just a 1/4 mile, just pull the sleeves up towards your body a
> lot, to the point where the neoprene is bunching up a little around the
> shoulder area. this should ensure that you at least have good range of motion
> in your shoulders. if you can test it out first, great, if not, you will be
> fine-
> just do this before the race start, do some dryland warmups with your arms to
> make sure they can spin as usual-
> I used an old two-piece, french made, 60s -style jacques cousteau-style diving
> suit many years ago- man was it terrible. but who was I to know? and there was
> no way I would swim sans in 60-degrees. wear it!
> good luck

08-23-2004, 06:39 PM

"Jim Gosse" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].ca> wrote in
news:c9pvpi$h6g$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].mun.ca:

> I use an o'neil multi sport suit made for surfing, wind surfing etc.
> This will be my third season in this suit. It fits me well, and I have
> never worn a specific tri suit, so I have nothing to compare it to.
>

I suspect if you ever try a swim-specific suit, you'd never go back.