Wet suit

You can't sink in a wetsuit, so it can be a huge relief for a new swimmer to know they won't drown.

That said, it's not uncommon for people to panic at swim starts in wetsuits, so a wetsuit isn't the main factor for most people who DNF the swim. The most important thing is to practice in race conditions, and why long time swim gurus are often the only people warming up before the gun (and why people who don't get in the water before the race are the people who panic).

And there are other tricks, like people panic when they try to hold their breath and forget to exhale. Exhaling is a drill I encourage in tough practice swims, it helps *a lot*, and like a few other things, is a lot easier when you practice in race conditions.

Also, I do have friends, now Iron distance triathletes, who not too long ago did their first races with 'swim buddy' options, where experienced volunteers pair with brand new triathletes - this can be hugely successful for some people.

On edit: not too many triathletes lack the fitness and need a wetsuit to be able to swim 1.2 miles. 2000m isn't that far, especially knowing there are safety boats. A wetsuit is a nice safety device, but nearly all DNFs are from finding out the race isn't the pool.



Edited by Pacific John 2017-05-04 11:03 PM

Thanks for the reply and info.

As a lifetime swimmer will I tell you it makes a big difference, no. The flotation is nice but if you have good form you don't really need it but it will make you a bit faster. I think the principal value is in mitigating colder water. If you are not a strong swimmer, it has the huge value, as outlined above, of functioning as a flotation device. YMMV

I love my wetsuit and while I haven't been able to do timed swims in comparable conditions i definitely feel like my wet suit buoyancy helps my time substantially. All that said: can you do a half length swim without one? Totally. Honestly I wouldn't even worry about it, assuming you're even a halfway decent swimmer and the water is not some crazy cold temperature.

The worse the swimmer, the greater the help a wetsuit will provide. As above, you won't sink, but you do need to find one that fits and practice with it, both in the pool and open water. If I were you, i would practice with it in the pool until you're comfortable with it. If you struggle to do the distance you desire in a pool, then it will be MUCH harder to do that distance in the open water. Also, look up sighting techniques. How far can you swim non stop? How many yards per week are you doing? More importantly, do you have a coach?

Thanks for your responses. You guys answered my questions.