Cold water swim tips, please!!

I swam in the Atlantic today it was 70 which is about 7-10 higher than you but still pretty cool for my area. It felt cold. I dont typically wear a wet suit but wish I had at the beginning. My thinking is once you're in and get going water temp completely leaves your mind.

Edited by soupaman 2004-06-25 10:01 PM

most places that sell wetsuits also sell neoprene thermal swim caps.

the water temp here in NE is still in the low 60's.  I just wear a wetsuit and eventually you get used to it.  A friend of mine swims a bit north of Boston where the water temps are still in the low 50's and she finds my water temps nice and cozy.  Go figure!

when you first get in the water.....go ahead and pee in your suit if you need to. That always helps me get adjusted. A lot of people pee in their suits, even if they don't admit it.
-S

As for swim caps, there are a couple of options.

My friend swears by the neoprene swim caps...we did an open water swim in 50+ degree weather and she said it helped. During that swim I wore 2 swim caps which helped keep the heat in. As well, go for the silicone swim caps...a buck or two more, but worth it.

As for getting used to it, get your face in there...and know it's going to shock the hell out of you...you'll probablyhyperventilate a bit at first...you just have to work it. If you're in a race, make sure to warm up about 5-10 min before...and getting totally acclimated to the water, face in, going under, water in the wetsuit, etc. You need to get over that initial shock and I promise you, as other posters said, you will get used to it and warm up pretty quick.

nt

Get in that water Keepitup, if you swam in the lakes in northern Ont. you will be fine.

I also learnt to swim in the lakes up north.

Georgian bay by Parry Sound and then the mother of all lakes Superior that is one cooold lake I tell you that.

You will be fine, as the others have said get in before the race and get acclimatised so you do not have the shock when you first get in in.

Chances are good you will hyperventilate a little at the beginning that is totally normal but it does not last very long you will warm up when the swimming starts and make sure you have a buddy with you when you hit the water.

Safety first.

Roy

How about wearing 2 caps?  You lose most of the heat through your head anyway.  That would avoid paying for a neoprene hood.

My first race is in 2 weeks and the lake is frigid as we have had a very cool summer in northern Minnesota. We tried out the lake this morning and I don't think there is any way I could swim in there without a wetsuit- my feet and hands hurt from the cold in just 5 minutes.

Can anyone tell me if that kind of cold can be overcome without a wetsuit or do we need to drop even more cash on this habit?