Wetsuit
Frequently Asked Questions...
If
you have a question about wearing and racing in a wetsuit, please
submit it to speedforrent@gmail.com
and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Q:
Why should I wear a wetsuit?
Lots
of reasons. Triathlon wetsuits are made from neoprene, a
buoyant material that can offer speed and warmth to the
athlete. They streamline the body making the swimmer faster by
decreasing drag and increasing efficiency in the water.
Triathlon wetsuits are specially designed to offer a complete range
of motion in the arms and shoulders, while offering buoyancy in the
hips.
Q:
Should I go with a sleeveless?
That
depends. Some athletes prefer sleeveless suits to the full
sleeve because sleeveless suits are less restrictive in the
arms. However, the full sleeve suits are generally considered
faster and definitely offer more warmth. For races in warmer
water, sleeveless wetsuits are often preferred.
Q:
How do I get the darn thing on?
It
takes a bit of practice to get in and out of wetsuits... You might
want to start by putting a skin lubricant on your hands, feet and
back of the neck to reduce chafing and to help your body parts get
into and out of the suit. It's common to for feet and hands to
get stuck in the suit during a race.
Start
by putting your feet through the leg holes and pull the suit up your
legs as far as possible. Pull the suit up over your hips.
Put
your hands through the arm holes and repeat the process by pulling
the suit up your arms as far as possible. Pull the suit over
your shoulders and zip up the back. Many athletes will loop
the zipper pull-cord and tuck it under the velcro on the neck of the
suit to keep it out of the way during the race.
Q:
Okay. Now get me out of this thing...
Use
the zipper pull cord to unzip the back of the suit. Pull the
suit down, just as you put it on. Roll the suit down
your legs turning it inside out (trying to pull it down
won't work well). You'll be free once you can pull your feet out of
the leg holes.
Q:
Wow. Its kind of tight in here! Are wetsuits supposed to
be tight?
Yes.
Your wetsuit will make you feel (and look) like a sausage in a
casing. You're not alone. They will fit tight but not
cut-off-the-circulation tight. If the suit makes moving or
breathing difficult, it might be too small. The collar is
meant to be tight as well. Once you get in the water, it will
loosen up and feel less restrictive. Have patience and you'll
get used to it.
