tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post9046822101404490221..comments2024-03-23T03:30:09.590-07:00Comments on The Daily News of Open Water Swimming: SharkBait and SuperFish in LorneSteven Munatoneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-28461735486687893142009-09-17T11:31:22.107-07:002009-09-17T11:31:22.107-07:00Hello Larry,
Sorry for such a late reply but I on...Hello Larry,<br /><br />Sorry for such a late reply but I only now read the comments. <br /><br />The race is in the south is Australia near Melbourne. Water temp for the race annually is about 16-18 degrees, not that cold but not that warm either. Traditionally wetsuits were worn back in the day to keep you warm, but then the wetsuit companies decided to exploit this and create "speed suits". I am agaisnt wetsuits but I wear one because basically I am young and competitive! Anyway if you were to go to a race in the northern states such as NSW or Queensland you would see few wetsuits if any at all. It's just the way things developed over the years in Australia. And of couse all the official Swimming Australia open water races ban the use of wetsuits according to FINA rules.<br /><br />Anyway hope that clears things up!<br /><br />Michal SkrodzkiMichal Skrodzkinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-83292616627331978452009-01-10T14:14:00.000-08:002009-01-10T14:14:00.000-08:00Many masters swimmers, channel swimmers and purist...Many masters swimmers, channel swimmers and purists feel at least as strongly as you do about the use of wetsuits. <BR/><BR/>At the same time, hundreds of thousands of individuals worldwide have enjoyed open water swimming due to the use of wetsuits. This website provides information that is of potential interest to both groups. <BR/><BR/>From one perspective, I know that the current rules of channel swimming will not change in our lifetimes. That is, no wetsuits or even full-body high-tech suits will be allowed. <BR/><BR/>From another perspective, these no-wetsuit rules will not stop the relentless growth of wetsuit-wearing open water swimmers.<BR/><BR/>When I think fundamentally what is "fair" or not, it reminds me that today's athletes have advantages over athletes in the past. For example, contemporary athletes are aided by GPS that allows for ease of navigation and international jet travel. <BR/><BR/>It would be interesting to hear the opinion of purists in other sports (like mountain climbing) about the use of new technology in their sports. For example, I believe contemporary climbers use different technologies than when Sir Edmund Hillary climbed Mt. Everest.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-76255566527573353722009-01-10T13:51:00.000-08:002009-01-10T13:51:00.000-08:00I haven't been reading 10Kswimmer long enough to k...I haven't been reading 10Kswimmer long enough to know how you and your readers feel about wetsuits. I'm totally against them for reasons which have nothing at all to do with thermal comfort. When "swimming" in a wetsuit, one can bend one's knees and raise the heels in the air and swim with the legs at a 90 degree angle to the water, and scarcely lose any velocity. It becomes actually difficult to kick -- the leg buoyancy interferes with the propulsive downstroke. Thus, strong kickers (e.g. Larsen Jensen/Erik Vendt-types) are disadvantaged. Weak kickers and, of course, triathlete-type weak swimmers, with imperfect body position, are unfairly advantaged. It just changes the dynamics swim competitions. The other problem is that, owing to buoyancy and higher body position and decreased resistance, it is always faster for sub-elite swimmers to swim in a wetsuit than without one, so even good (albeit sub-elite) swimmers are compelled to wear them, for the sake of being competitive, which, for many, greatly diminishes the aesthetic pleasure of swimming.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-28607087505644859212009-01-10T10:40:00.000-08:002009-01-10T10:40:00.000-08:00I will check with our colleagues today. But, this...I will check with our colleagues today. But, this calls to mind the difference in how the sport of open water swimming is being developed around the world. As the sport continues to grow and develop very quickly in countries like England, Australia, South Africa and elsewhere, there appears a push to include as many participants as possible regardless if the swimmers wear wetsuits or not. The strategy of British Swimming is particularly interesting and forward-looking, as they are focusing on a major celebration of open water swimming at the 2012 London Olympics.Steven Munatoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11024264870051991154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-189494986653874518.post-84225187489466081012009-01-10T10:23:00.000-08:002009-01-10T10:23:00.000-08:00What's the water temperature? Lotta wetsuits, but ...What's the water temperature? Lotta wetsuits, but paddlers not bundled up. Just curious.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com