Race day is when officials make the final call as to whether or not you can wear a wetsuit during the swim portion of a triathlon. They base their decision on water temperature, and the requirements vary depending on the race distance. However, regardless of the distance, all swims governed by the International Triathlon Union, ITU, will be canceled if the water temperature is below 13 degrees Celsius, or 55.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Personal Factors
If race officials allow you wear a wetsuit, it is usually wise to do so. Even if you are comfortable in cooler water or if the temperature is riding the fence for the cut-off, wearing a wetsuit is likely to improve your swim performance. Because wetsuits provide buoyancy, they help you swim faster and with improved efficiency. In addition, wetsuits help your legs rest and float behind you, making it possible to save your quadriceps and calf muscles for the bike and run.
ITU Competition Rules
For Age Group athletes, wetsuits are forbidden above degrees 22 degrees Celsius, or 71.6 degrees Fahrenheit, for 750- and 1500-meter swims. For 3000- and 4000-meter swims, they are forbidden in water above 23 and 24 degrees Celsius, or 73.4 and 75.2 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. Suits are mandatory for all distances in water temperatures below 14 degrees Celsius, or 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit.
Testing the Water
According to ITU rules, officials must test the water temperature one hour prior to the start on race day. They must get a reading at the middle of the course as well as two other areas on the swim course, and they must take each reading at a depth of 60 centimeters. Of all the temperatures captured, the lowest recorded is considered the official water temperature.
Environmental Factors
Other environmental factors can influence the decision race officials make, as well. High winds or heavy rains can affect their analysis, and they may decide to shorten the swim distance or mandate wetsuits as a result. Plus, if the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, they can lower the official water temperature by 0.5 degrees Celsius for every 1 degree Celsius difference between the air and water.
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