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Aiming to do a half iron man in Mallorca next year for which I will need a wetsuit. As it's in May it seems sensible to sort one sooner rather than later so I can try swimming in it before winter sets in and the places I can swim in a wetsuit appear to reduce. I can swim the distance in a reasonable time in the pool but imagine and have been told it is very different in suit. I have no idea about this kind of stuff. I know I don't want to spend mega money but wonder if there is much of a difference between £100 and £200? Presumably fit is very important but to what point and anything I should look for in fit?
Or given it is Mallorca and the water temp should be ok do I go fleabay for a sleeveless one and then if I like triathlon stuff and intend to do more sort a full suit which is suited to uk events. My thinking here is that the fit is crucial around the shoulder so as not to impede stroke so taking a punt is probably ok.
And if anyone has any pointers to good helpful shops in either south London or Guildford area it would be great.
I did Mallorca HIM this year.
First off good choice, its an excellent race... the bike is fantastic and the swim you can see the bottom the whole way around... its lovely.
Are you doing a HIM straight off ?? No Olympic distances this year??
You need not only to practise openwater swimming but also swimming in a big group with others very close to you... sometimes hitting you etc.... can be quite tough for some.
That aside swimming in a wet suit is easier.... unlike other watersport wet suits, tri/swimming wet suit are very bouyant and kept you "high" in the water
Fit is super important... tight as you can get without restricting you.
From what you said above a £100 will not be your limiting factor.... think my wetsuit was about £120 and it's served me very well for the last 3 years and I will not upgrade it until it dies... I'll spend my money on more swimming lesson first.
Great, thanks.
Yes, straight into the Mallorca race, well the plan is to target that and if there are local tri races I can fit in before then for some practice. Just noticed the xterra in august which is just down the road from where I live. We have a friend who did it this year and his wife mentioned that it was a good holiday as well. Wanted to do a half ironman for a while so it was decided. It's just a swim in the sea, a bike ride in the sun and a jog along the beach isn't it? 😀
Will have to try some on. It seems height and weight wise i'm an xl on the zone3 website but that would, according to the sizing, be an inch or two big on the chest
As above - fit is everything. The only problem is that for most folk it will feel so alien that knowing its a good fit is something you might struggle to judge on your own. More money gets you more flexibility but at the rate most newbies put nail marks in a suit when they first use one, I'd start with a cheap one first! A few stores have endless pools (triuk in Yeovil and try it sports in Chichester for example) which is helpful. I think they still hire suits at Heron lake to test and you get the money back if you buy.
Perfect, Chichester isn't a million miles away so will give them a ring and hopefully head down there.
Just noticed the xterra in august
That's interesting- hadn't noticed it was back (now run by the global franchising company). The company that ran it previously went into receivership with everyone's entry fee. I wonder if they are honoring the entries?
swim/tri suits make a massive difference, but personally i'd avoid the cheap ones and go for a way better old stock model. i swear by my 2xu, it was a 300quid odd suit that i paid just over 100 for. full yamamoto, blind stiched etc very well made and should you need it 2xu uk customer service is incredible.
google 2xu uk and you will find their shop, the other week they had some good deals on sale.
be warned though, swim suits are incredibly fragile and you do need to take care. very easy to tear them, but, as i say, just take care.
Perfect, Chichester isn't a million miles away so will give them a ring and hopefully head down there.
Time your visit right and then hang around for a swim at the lake almost across the road from the shop [url= http://www.chichesterwatersports.co.uk/news.html ]link[/url]
I thought it was the vachery triathlon and this is a separate event which is part of the bigger global xterra stuf? From my brief google it was the road element of the bike section in the triathlon which caused the issue whereas the xterra is offroad so not a problem.
They were run by the same guy as one company. It was indeed the problems with the road triathlon that sent him under but it took the xterra with it.
I did it last year. Kind of enjoyed it but slightly underwhelmed by the atmosphere. Huge global event 'brand', but a troubled history getting a proper foothold in the UK.
Ah I see, will maybe hunt down some more or do some more digging before entering something which doesn't exist!
No, I'd say it will happen....
[i]"TEAM Unlimited, the Hawaii-based owners of the XTERRA brand and worldwide series of off-road triathlon and trail running races, has taken ownership of the XTERRA England Championship to be held August 24, 2014 at Vachary Estate in the Surrey Hills near Cranleigh."[/i]
It just might struggle to get too many competitors due people being wary- and the foreigners who turned up last year and made a sizable percentage of the entry expecting it to be a big 'Ironman Brand' style event like it is on the continent not coming back.