GEAR
ALL THE BEST EQUIPMENT FOR A BETTER SWIM SECOND SKIN
Wetsuits help you swim faster by reducing drag and improving buoyancy, but only if you fit them correctly. Put one on incorrectly, and it can seriously hold you back. Manufacturers’ sizing guides are pretty good but it’s best to try a new suit before you buy, and bear in mind what distances you’re planning to swim. This is particularly relevant if you fit one size category based on your height and another based on your weight. A wetsuit should fit like a second skin, practically vacuum- sealed. The manufacturers are not exaggerating when they suggest allowing at least 15mins to put on a suit. If I observe someone at one of our open-water sessions putting on their wetsuit in just a few minutes then I know they could be in a smaller suit. The suit should be verging on uncomfortable when you are standing in it when dry. If you stand up straight, you shouldn't be able to easily pull the material away from your stomach. If it pulls away with little effort, then you could be in something tighter. Do a simple test: with the suit on and well-fitted all over, hold one arm out horizontally and check the material underneath. If there are folds of rubber or an air pocket, there isn’t enough of you to fill the suit.
STAGE ONE
A well-fitted swimming wetsuit can cut minutes off your times, while a badly fitted one can ruin your day. Speedo advisory coach Dan Bullock explains how to squeeze into yours
At the same time, you don’t want to cram yourself into a suit
that’s too small. With the suit on and zipped, slowly squat down. This movement will elongate the length of your back and stretch the suit. If it is too small, you will feel a sharp tugging around the neck and shoulders as the suit will not have enough material to fit your torso comfortably, and this will restrict your swimming. If you're swimming for 4km or longer, I recommend considering a larger suit, as comfort should be the overriding factor. Things can go horribly wrong if you're not perfectly at ease in your suit. But don’t go too large, or water will flood in and you’ll end up feeling like you are swimming around inside your suit: not fun. For shorter races, especially if you expect to exit the water in 20 minutes or less, you can probably tolerate a tighter suit and possibly make some speed gains. Finally, a suit that’s well fitted should be easy to zip up. Ease it gently – tugging it into position will weaken the join over time, causing it to tear at, no doubt, the most inconvenient time.
BEFORE YOU START Improper handling of a wetsuit will not only give a poor performance, it can easily damage it, so consider:
STAGE TWO
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Photos © Speedo
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