GEAR
ALL THE BEST EQUIPMENT FOR A BETTER SWIM MADE FOR
Like it or not – and many don’t (see our big debate on page 21) – wetsuits have become a big feature in open water swimming, with many events now insisting on them for safety reasons. With prices of up to £650, a wetsuit purchase can be a sizeable investment for swimmers, so it requires careful planning. Knowledge of wetsuit technology can help you to choose one that will shave valuable seconds off swim times as well as protect you from the cold. If you are going to get a wetsuit, our biggest recommendation is that you buy (or hire) one that’s specifi cally designed for swimming or triathlon. Don’t let the link with triathlon put you off. Wetsuit swimming grew out of multi-sport racing, and triathlon has driven much of the innovation in wetsuits over the last 20 years. A triathlon wetsuit is meant to be fast in the water and easy to remove so competitors can move swiftly
THE CHALLENGE IS TO DESIGN A SUIT THAT HELPS THE SWIMMER MAINTAIN THEIR STROKE
Swimming wetsuits have come on a long way since they were invented more than 20 years ago. H2Open editor Simon Griffi ths looks at the history and new technology
SPEED
onto their bikes. As a swimmer you probably want to enjoy the scenery after your swim, rather than race off, but it’s still nice to know you don’t have to fi ght your way out.
EVOLUTION According to Wikipedia, Dan Empfi eld, an Ironman triathlete since 1978, invented the tri-swimming wetsuit in 1987 when he founded Quintana Roo, a maker of triathlon-specifi c wetsuits, which went on to be a great commercial success. Empfi eld says that before he launched his product he had only seen two other wetsuits used for triathlon, but neither took off. “The fi rst was a rebadged surfi ng wetsuit meant for warmth, not speed. The second was designed for speed but its rubber was thin and provided no real buoyancy, and it was time-consuming to remove.”
Photo © blueseventy 46
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