Steelman 2013

Originally posted by spiderjunior

Looks like I am most likely in for the Sprint. I just got a wetsuit yesterday. Have an OWS set up for 2 weeks from now. Wondering if the swim will be wetsuit legal. Also, being only my second race ever (sprint tri / pool swim) back in April, if it is wetsuit legal, can I assume that I would benefit time wise from wearing the wetsuit even though its only a 850 yard swim? I have heard that i can cut somewhere around 5-10 seconds per 100yds from your swim pace. Seems to me that it would be worth it to wear it then?

Originally posted by spiderjunior

Looks like I am most likely in for the Sprint. I just got a wetsuit yesterday. Have an OWS set up for 2 weeks from now. Wondering if the swim will be wetsuit legal. Also, being only my second race ever (sprint tri / pool swim) back in April, if it is wetsuit legal, can I assume that I would benefit time wise from wearing the wetsuit even though its only a 850 yard swim? I have heard that i can cut somewhere around 5-10 seconds per 100yds from your swim pace. Seems to me that it would be worth it to wear it then?

Originally posted by japewang



I don't believe it was wetsuit legal last year, nor would I anticipate it to be this year. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Originally posted by spiderjunior

Thanks for the replies. I pulled the trigger and signed up today. Have about 3 chances to get in some OWS practice before the race. I saw on the website that if the water is above 78 degrees you can still wear a wetsuit but you just won't be eligible for prizes. I am pretty confident that I won't podium, so I am thinking i might actually want to wear the wet suit still. Am I going to one of only a few people with a wetsuit on, or are there still a bunch of people that wear them. If I'm going to be only one of a few, I'll probably just go without it

Originally posted by MFConlon


exactly, greater than 78 wetsuits are not legal but are allowed. Above 84 degrees and you're not allowed to wear one.

I think when people hear "wetsuits are not legal", they assume you cannot wear one. So for instance, last year there were 549 people who completed the sprint, only 10 wore wetsuits, even though you were definitely allowed. Only difference is, your results don't show up in the interactive list with everyone else. there are separate "persons wearing wetsuit result"

Originally posted by spiderjunior



Thanks. Wow, thats crazy. Only 10 out of 500+ people wore the suits. Interesting. I guess I would fall into the group of people that just decided to go without the suit then. Kind of the fun for me is looking at all the times of people around me and see how I compared and if wearing the suit would put me on a list with only 10 people then I would probably just opt to not wear one. Have to play it by ear. Thanks again for the clarification

Originally posted by MFConlon

Do whatever you are most comfortable with. I am a strong swimmer and had planned on wearing a wetsuit to last years Steelman. This was my first tri and first open water swim, so I just stuck with my game plan and wore the wetsuit.

Originally posted by MFConlon

Do whatever you are most comfortable with. I am a strong swimmer and had planned on wearing a wetsuit to last years Steelman. This was my first tri and first open water swim, so I just stuck with my game plan and wore the wetsuit.

Originally posted by MFConlon



Do whatever you are most comfortable with. I am a strong swimmer and had planned on wearing a wetsuit to last years Steelman. This was my first tri and first open water swim, so I just stuck with my game plan and wore the wetsuit.

Originally posted by mrbbrad


As an FYI, there is more to it than just how your results are listed. Between 78 and 84 you can wear a wet suit but will not be eligible for awards. I did Quakerman in Nockamixon in 2011, missed my AG podium by less than 90 seconds. Close enough in the hunt for me to not wear the wet suit over 78 degrees. YMMV

4.4 Wet suits. Each age group participant shall be permitted to wear a wet suit without penalty in any event sanctioned by USA Triathlon up to and including a water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water temperature is greater than 78 degrees, but less than 84 degrees Fahrenheit, age group participants may wear a wet suit at their own discretion, provided however that participants who wear a wet suit within this temperature range shall not be eligible for prizes or awards. Age group participants shall not wear wet suits in water temperatures equal to or greater than 84 degrees Fahrenheit. The wetsuit policy for elite athletes shall be determined by the USAT Athletes Advisory Council. The AAC has set the wetsuit maximum temperature for elite athletes at 68 degrees for swim distances less than 3000 meters and 71.6 degrees for distances of 3000 meters or greater.
Any swimmer wearing a wetsuit with a thickness measured in any part greater than 5 millimeters shall be disqualified.

Originally posted by mike761 Usually this is not a wet suite legal event. I think this year will be my 7th time doing it and only once were wet suites allowed. With that said it most likely will be wet suit legal this year, water temp is low and air temp is low this week Keep in mind that wearing a wet suit when water temps are over 78 is dangerous! people have heat strokes from this, this is one why Ironman dropped their cutoff down to 76°F