Here's my ranking of Ironman swims by venue that I've done. Note I am a cold water weenie. I hate cold water.
Canada (Penticton, now a Challenge race) - nice. Wetsuit legal, freshwater, roomy one loop, 70 degrees. I've done this twice in 2008 and 2009.
Cozumel - warm, saltwater, non-wetsuit when I did it at 78 degrees. A couple cold currents (like somebody turned off the hot water in the shower), but that's it. No chop when I did it in 2009 but has been brutal at times since. I hear it's now a point to point swim because of the current. So it's probably better now.
Arizona in April - they don't do this in April anymore, but I liked it. The water is gross to look at but better to swim in, and wetsuit legal at 70 or so. I did this three times (2006, 2007, 2008)
Los Cabos - warm at 72, saltwater, wetsuit (sleeveless). Some chop but it was a good swim in 2013.
Lake Placid - Two loops, crowded, cold. I got smacked in the face so hard I thought I'd get a nosebleed, and dislodged my goggles. I did this in 2010.
Coeur d'Alene - one loop, cold, Really cold. Awful cold. Like 54 degrees. Crowded swim entry, be sure to get in the water early. Wind can make the lake very choppy, but I didn't have that when I did this race in 2011.
BTW, I'm racing for IMAZ next month, first time in November. I presume it's the same but 64 degrees, so I'll see how I like it. I hate water in the 50s, endure the 60s, and like 70s.
Edited by brucemorgan 2014-10-17 12:00 AM