General Discussion Triathlon Talk » swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming Rss Feed  
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2014-09-22 2:32 PM

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Los Angeles, California
Subject: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming
hi everyone! very new to triathlon and forums but got a question. I know my technique probably sucks in everything but what totally blew my mind is the difference between swimsuit and nonswimsuit swimming. I did my first sprint two weeks ago no swimsuit breaststroking all the way (freestyle is still work in progress plus the whole commotion of a swim start and people kicking and punching all over did not add comfort to my first tri swim . this weekend I did an intermediate distance and I got a swimsuit (gotta love new shiny toys and thought I'd breaststroke it again just in case. but I had so much buoyancy and my legs were so much higher than usual that I found myself kicking air quite a bit I also played with freestyling a bit and was totally blown with the ease of it and the speed of it compared to no swimsuit (it actually felt easier than breaststroking this time).

so the question I was pondering is whether its my horrible technique that account for such a drastic difference or does swimsuit really affect things that much. I understand that both factors contribute but I'd like to hear from you good swimmers just how big the difference is for you. because if the difference is not that major I think I might seriously consider swim coaching and if the difference is still large do you tweak your technique in any way to account for swimsuit differences?

Thanks!
Alexey


2014-09-22 2:43 PM
in reply to: woosh

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Maryland
Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming

I think you mean wetsuit? otherwise please tell me where I can sign up for the naked triathlon!

They make a huge difference, especially if you have some room for improvement with your swim form. The biggest thing is that they help elevate your hips/legs because they are buoyant. I would still say you should work on your swim and consider coaching, because using the wetsuit as a crutch isn't necessarily the best plan.

 

 

 

2014-09-22 2:49 PM
in reply to: woosh

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Virginia
Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming

Is "nonswimsuit swimming" the same as skinny dipping?

 

2014-09-22 2:55 PM
in reply to: woosh

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Panama City, FL
Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming
They help a bad swimmer and help good swimmers. Use a wetsuit whenever legal.
2014-09-22 2:56 PM
in reply to: woosh


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Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming

The wetsuit aids weaker swimmer substantially. Stronger swimmers, still, but not as much.


Weaker swimmers (like 2:00+/100) often have serious leg drop in the water, and often waste significant energy with a kick to keep the body flattish instead of that kick energy going toward propulsion, because they haven't yet learned to swim with the low chest in the water. Add sighting to that mix, and the slower speed, and it's even harder for slower swimmers to keep the legs up. The wetsuit almost entirely removes this handicap - you have to literally intentionally drop your legs in the water on purpose to not keep them up as the wetsuit is so buoyant. 

 

It's however standard practice to improve swimming by NOT only training in a wetsuit. Remove the crutches and aids, learn to swim without them, and then you'll be even faster with a wetsuit. 

 

Once you're fairly comfortable in/out of a wetsuit, and swimming confidently freestyle for races, the wetsuit still helps a lot in buoyancy for sighting - without the wetsuit, it's pretty energy-intensitve to swim with your head out of water for a few strokes to get your bearings in OWS, but with a wetsuit, it's actually easy.

2014-09-22 3:08 PM
in reply to: dmiller5

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48
25
Los Angeles, California
Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming
lol, yeah, wetsuit.. sorry, monday morning, office, postevent fatigue, ESL.. but hey maybe it was a blessing in disguise for grabbing some attention and actually getting some feedback

so from the comments my understanding is that between the extremes of my horrible form and amazing wetsuit position, good form is still closer to the wetsuit position. I definitely was never interested in crutches. the point of the post was to see if wetsuit is still a huge improvement over good form and it sounds like not so much so I guess it's time to take swimming much more seriously...


2014-09-22 4:11 PM
in reply to: woosh

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Katy, Texas
Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming
Originally posted by woosh

no swimsuit breaststroking all the way


ehem....
2014-09-22 4:34 PM
in reply to: woosh


467
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, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming
Brought back 50 year old memories of swim instruction at the Y . . .
2014-09-22 4:40 PM
in reply to: woosh

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1502
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Katy, Texas
Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming
Originally posted by woosh

hi everyone! very new to triathlon and forums but got a question. I know my technique probably sucks in everything but what totally blew my mind is the difference between swimsuit and nonswimsuit swimming. I did my first sprint two weeks ago no swimsuit breaststroking all the way (freestyle is still work in progress plus the whole commotion of a swim start and people kicking and punching all over did not add comfort to my first tri swim . this weekend I did an intermediate distance and I got a swimsuit (gotta love new shiny toys and thought I'd breaststroke it again just in case. but I had so much buoyancy and my legs were so much higher than usual that I found myself kicking air quite a bit I also played with freestyling a bit and was totally blown with the ease of it and the speed of it compared to no swimsuit (it actually felt easier than breaststroking this time).

so the question I was pondering is whether its my horrible technique that account for such a drastic difference or does swimsuit really affect things that much. I understand that both factors contribute but I'd like to hear from you good swimmers just how big the difference is for you. because if the difference is not that major I think I might seriously consider swim coaching and if the difference is still large do you tweak your technique in any way to account for swimsuit differences?

Thanks!
Alexey


Joking aside (and you definitely grabbed attention with that headline) I would highly recommend lessons/coaching. The beauty of swimming is that you can have huge gains just by adjusting technique as opposed to the other sports in which you really just have to grind it out.
2014-09-22 4:47 PM
in reply to: woosh

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lake forest, California
Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming

lol- had to check out this thread although it's not what I thought..........

2014-09-23 7:17 AM
in reply to: dmiller5

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Exton, PA
Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming
Originally posted by dmiller5

I think you mean wetsuit? otherwise please tell me where I can sign up for the naked triathlon!



Sign up no, volunteer for body marking yes!!!


2014-09-23 9:40 AM
in reply to: mike761

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Subject: RE: swimsuit vs noswimsuit swimming

Originally posted by mike761
Originally posted by dmiller5

I think you mean wetsuit? otherwise please tell me where I can sign up for the naked triathlon!

Sign up no, volunteer for body marking yes!!!

 

Unlike Ironman, you'd have to do the event before you could sign up to volunteer.

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