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Swim Skin Anyone?

Dino SartiDino Sarti
in General Training Discussions
I am looking at the weather and I am thinking my two-piece DeSoto wetsuit will be too toasty for Chattanooga. Last year I used my wetsuit at CDA and Tahoe and was nice and toasty in water in the low 60's. Chattanooga should be mid to upper 70's.

Any words of wisdom regarding swim skins? Growing in SoCal, I have never used one, but it seems like a better option to wear one over my EN Tri Kit, versus nothing or roasting in two layers of neoprene.

Or, I could bust out my TYR sleeves wetsuit from two seasons ago.....

Thoughts? Reccos?

Comments

  • Mike RobertsMike Roberts
    Dino, if wetsuits are legal (76 or below), I'm full wetsuit, no question about it. If optional and I'm not shooting for AG or KQ, I'll wear my old sleeveless up to 80 or 82, taking into account what the air temp is too. Above that, speed suit. But, with the time and leg savings, I always default to the wetsuit if it's a close call. Just my $.02.
  • Brad MarcusBrad Marcus
    When legal, full wetsuit for me always. Faster and fixes my vertical body positioning. But, I don't like the cold, so that's just me.
  • Al TruscottAl Truscott
    Depends on your goals...

    Every second counts, full sleeve for sure. But be prepared for an uncomfortable swim with elevated HR, incipient dehydration. iM Australia 2001, Tim DeBoom DNF'd after passing out in a full sleeve in 72F water, equiv to 76 for us.

    Comfort, then go with sleeveless or DeSoto bottom. You'll lose a minute or two, but will feel o lot better going into T1
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]

    Dino, same here. I asked that question years ago when I was doing Eagleman. The temp was borderline.  The overwhelming advice was wetsuit always. You would be at a disadvantage based on most people wearing one vs your swim skin.  That year 2012 at Eagleman, the temp had to be right at the cut off. I was warm but I made it without issue.

     

  • Mark RobertsMark Roberts
    Racing chattanooga -- Hoping for above 76 and wearing Swimskin. If its barely wetsuit legal, will probably go with full suit although I'd rather swim in sleeveless. Cooler, more shoulder mobility. Sleeveless vs full suit is probably giving up a few minutes.
  • tim cronktim cronk
    Dino, I have 2 plans for IMCHOO swim.... 1. Below 76 full suit 2. Above 76 swim skin

    If its in the wetsuit optional range of 76-83 and you run hot and dont care about KONA/Podium then sleeveless is the way to go ! I have tons of comparison's of my fullsuit vs sleeveless on my almost daily OWS TT and the full is faster by about 15-30 seconds per 1/2 mile for me but the sleeveless runs a lot cooler when temps hit in the high 70's.
  • Mark RobertsMark Roberts
    Alright Tim, Following your lead. Full suit or swimskin. Not giving up free speed.
  • Dino SartiDino Sarti
    Swim skin just arrived! Thanks, Amazon prime!
  • kbaker1966kbaker1966

    I couldn't find another forum for this question, but it's related to open water swimming so i hope y'all don't mind me posting it here:

    I am done for the year with triathlons, but I am signed up for a 10 mile OWS in Chattanooga on October 12, 2014.  No wetsuits allowed.  I have a swim skin on order b/c I get cold really easily if I'm in the water more than 2 hours [I swam 5 miles of a planned 10 mile practice swim last Sunday and got out b/c I was too cold and my arms/legs stopped working (plus my face/lips were turning blue - I was only in a regular bathing suit)].  I am thin framed.

    I am concerned that the swim skin won't be enough (even with a tri suit or bathing suit underneath). I've done a little research (without success) to try and find something like a lotion to put on legs, arms, etc....I found a product (lotion) for cycling in cold weather, but the owner emailed me back that he didn't know how it would work on swimmers b/c no one had ever tried it although his product works in rainy conditions so he didn't really know.

    Does anyone have any ideas for me?  I've already decided that I may end up getting pulled from the water b/c of the cold, but I'm going to at least try this event b/c I've never done it - it's called Swim the Suck (as in Suck Creek) and it's very popular.  It gets a lot of people from all over so if you like OWS you should check it out for 2015.  Sells out in 30 minutes. Limited to 100 swimmers for safety.

    I'm looking forward to cheering on EN athletes this weekend in my hometown of Chattanooga!

     Kay 

     

  • Al TruscottAl Truscott

    I know professional long distance swimmers (English Channel, etc) coat themselves with some sort of petroleum jelly. I am sure Google knows the answer. Or Facebook Diana Nyad and ask her - I bet she;d tell you some tricks if you could just find out how to contact her.

  • John WithrowJohn Withrow
    Also, 2.5 weeks doesn't give you much time, but... I have experimented with Cold Thermogenesis all yr. You DO build up an "immunity" to it. But generally it takes time for your body to build up it's Brown Fat stores so you can more efficiently generate your own heat. That's the physical part, but there is a mental component as well.

    If you really want to do this race, then I'd personally take an Ice bath every single night. If you can build up to 45 mins totally submerged in an ice bath, then maybe 4 hrs in 60 degree water is doable. And/Or use ice packs on your back and your chest. I personally use this in the evenings: https://www.coolfatburner.com/

    I also turned the heater completely off on my Endless Pool and did all of my swimming in that. But dam, 4 hours in cold water will just suck so much out of you... Agree with Al that Google should have the answer. Worst case, slather yourself in petroleum jelly before the start.
  • tim cronktim cronk
    @Kate-- good stuff from JW... Swimming to Antarctica is a great book... Not a how to, but a what is possible...

    http://www.amazon.com/Swimming-Antarctica-Long-Distance-Swimmer-Awards-ebook/dp/B002NXORCE/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411593691&sr=1-1&keywords=swimming+to+antarctica
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