Swimming in 2012

Shawnee Mission Park has OWS swims weekly, usually on Tues/thursdays. I think they started in mid-late may, but I could be wrong.  I went a few times in June, with the water still a bit chilly. There was a good group there each time, with a few people from KC Multisport there.

 As far as a wetsuit goes, I would DEFINITELY have one for Heritage Park/Bikesource Tri (water temps were <60 this year), and the KC Triathlon.  The temps should be pretty low, and if you are renting one, they are only a week apart (so order for an extra few days...)  I am doing the Kansas HM in June, and will plan on using one there, too, to help with some buoyancy.  But I guess it's just a personal pref.

Shawnee Mission Park OWS start in late May and are Tues/Thurs from 6:00-7:30 PM.

IMO wetsuits are a good idea when they are legal and the swim is greater than 500 yards.  If you're really slow at getting the thing off, then whatever gains you had in the swim might be lost in T1.  In my case I'll wear it when the competition wears them, especially with my poor body position due to a poor kick.

I've heard the same as what Mark said about the KC Tri and the one at Heritage Park, cold water....

The Jackson County Tri was wetsuit legal and that was in August.  Creative water temp measurements