Wet suit vs. birthday suit

Here is an srticle on this very subject:

http://www.windycitysports.com/story.cfm?story_id=5247&departmentID...

According to it:

"Quality swimmers may improve 6 or 7 percent in their swim times, and nonswimmers could improve their times 14 or 15 percent," says Bill Linnemann, owner of Mission Bay Multisport. "A person from a non-swimming background will gain a lot more advantage from a wetsuit than a swimmer."

I don't know if this is typical, but before trying my wetsuit I was swimming 900 yards in 20 minutes. First session with the suit I swam 900 yards in 17 minutes. Second session I did the same distance in 15 minutes.

Part of that progression could be actual improvement in my swimming, but a large amount is likely the suit.

Good Luck

Bill

So the reason I'm atrociously slow on the swim is because I don't have a wetsuit?

I'd like to think that's my problem too.

it's definately my reason for being so slow.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it. 

Looking forward to swimming with ya Max    (sure beats sitting in a restaurant with our wetsuits on)

The worse of a swimmer you are, the more the wetsuit helps. That's because it takes us poor body position landlubbers and gives us a good swimming body position. The first time I wore my suit, I felt like I was floating on top of the world. Interestingly, as I've gotten better over the past year, I feel less lift from my suit.

Last year, my first mile in the pool was :57.
Half IM race a week later, I did 1.2 mi in :43.
Full IM 3 weeks later, I did splits of :42 and :48 for a 1:30 total.

Current Best pool time is :46 for 2000 yds, or 1:39 translated IM time.
IM last week, I did 1.2 mi splids of :42 and :43, for a total of 1:25.

Plus, more than anything, wetsuits give me the confidence that, no matter what happens, I can finish the swim. I might take my time and glide for a bit, but I don't worry about how much further I've got to go.

Wetsuits are awesome.