How To Properly Fir a Triathlon Wetsuit
Posted: Friday, March 25, 2011
by Darren Evans
TriExercise
Choosing the right wetsuit for your needs can be the difference between completing the race in style and not finishing at all. You need to get round the swim is quickly and efficiently as possible saving as much energy as possible for the rest of the race. Picking the right one is a bit of a minefield but the most important thing of all to consider is the fit. Even an ill-fitting top of the range wetsuit will make you slower than an entry level suit that fits properly. Also, a good fitting wetsuit that is NOT put on properly can cause any number of problems. A suit that's too big will allow cold water to flush through it which will slow you down and make you feel colder. It will also ripple in the water which creates turbulence and means you travel through the water innefficiently.
1. You need to get it on properly. Make sure the legs are right up to the crotch and the arms are right under the armpits. This is the most common mistake to make and, if you don’t get this right, the suit won’t sit right anywhere on your body
2. Work the suit on gradually. It’s not uncommon for someone to take a few minutes getting their suit on and the more time you take the better. To put the legs on pinch from the bottom of the leg and work the material up. If you need to get it up higher start from the bottom again and work it up again. Don’t pull it up from the waist as the suit will simply return to where it was.
3. A good triathlon wetsuit is NOT built for comfort. You want total freedom across the back and top of the shoulder and if the suit feels too tight around your legs or hips then that doesn’t matter. Just so long as it doesn’t constrict your breathing.
Remember that, although the size guides suggest otherwise, different brands fit differently (e.g. a medium Blueseventy always seems smaller than a medium Aquasphere). Try and pick a suit appropriate to your needs (more/less buoyancy etc) but remember that the most important factor is whether it fits you properly. Take the time to get it right.
This Article has been viewed 148 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.