Once you’ve got the open water swimming bug, you might want to invest in a wetsuit for the comfort, improved performance and safety it offers in cold water.
Why wear a wetsuit?
The main purpose of a wetsuit is to provide thermal insulation. It traps a thin layer of water between the suit and your skin, which your body warms up. This layer of warm water acts as an insulating barrier, helping to maintain your body temperature in cold water. They also provide some buoyancy, helping you stay afloat more easily, and streamline the body allowing you to swim faster and more efficiently.
Many brave souls choose to swim in skins year-round, and for our Great Swim Trilogy events. We salute you! But with average temperatures in Irish waters ranging anywhere from a chilly 6 or 7 degrees Celsius to balmy 16 degrees plus, you might want to invest in a wetsuit to provide that extra insulation. The effect of cold water is the most common reason that competitors have to cut short their races.
What type of wetsuit should I wear?
You’ll need a well-fitting wetsuit that allows you to swim normally whilst helping to insulate the body against the cold water. We recommend wetsuits designed for triathlons. These are usually made from a flexible neoprene and have more flexibility at the shoulders and will not restrict or compromise your strokes.
For extra warmth you can also invest in booties, neoprene socks and gloves. Check with your event organiser if you are allowed to wear these during your event.
Make sure that it fits!
The most important thing, whatever type of wetsuit you decide to wear – surfing, shortie or swimming – is that it fits well. It should be snug when you put it on, so the water is trapped next to your body to warm you up.
If it is loose fitting, water will flow through it, preventing you from warming up. Too much water will also cause excess dragging in the water which will affect your swimming. If it is too small or too tight, this can cause difficulty in breathing and cramping while you swim.
Try it out before event day.
It’s important to know how you feel swimming in your wetsuit. We always recommend that you try your wetsuit out before event day, ideally in open water, but a swimming pool should be ok for you to check the fit and make sure it isn’t restricting your stroke.
Be aware of how you feel in the water.
Hypothermia is a potentially life-threatening condition where your body loses heat faster than it can produce it. It can set in quickly, even when you are wearing a wetsuit. You should constantly monitor how you feel in the water. If in doubt, act quickly. During an event, don’t just keep going - alert the safety teams on the water who will ensure you get the treatment you need.
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