At a recent Orca photoshoot in Sydney Australia 2007 Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack took some time out to help film a short video showing the easiest way to get a triathlon wetsuit on. For seasoned triathletes this is now a relatively simple task, but for those who haven’t repeated the process hundreds and thousands of times it can be quite a challenge.
You’ve done the training, you’ve got yourself a nice new Orca wetsuit, and you’ve paid the entry free - now it’s time to hit the start line! There is often a fair amount of apprehension as people approach their first open water event, but there are a number of small things that can make a huge difference to your experience.
SAFETY
Open water is not your safe pool environment with a lane rope and a lifeguard nearby. Make sure you swim with others in training or better yet, have a support kayak or boat with you. If it’s too rough, consider going to the pool or altering your session, for example swimming along a sheltered bay in waist deep water. Try and avoid swimming where the current or tide is going to take you away from the beach (i.e. outgoing tide with a wind blowing you out to sea). If in doubt check with the local lifeguards and also check the marine forecast.
At a recent Orca photoshoot we asked 2007 Ironman World Champion Chris McCormack to show us how he tackles what can be a challenging task for triathletes - getting your wetsuit on!
Macca’s put an Orca wetsuit on thousands of times, and in this video gives some practical tips that will make putting on your wetsuit a breeze.
Endurancecoach.com’s Brendon Downey offers insight into some easy ways to take time off your race.
T1: SWIM TO BIKE 1. SWIM EXIT TO BIKE RACK
The first transition starts when you can touch the bottom of the beach or reach the exit ramp.
Before the race, check the distance to the bike rack from this point - if it’s short (150m or less) you need to get cracking and get to the bike with as much done as possible. That’s the following:
- Goggles up
- Wetsuit unzipped
- Wetsuit top pulled off
- Swim cap and goggles off and in hand
- Wetsuit pulled down to hip level
Swimming in open water is a vastly different experience to training in a swimming pool. But with the right knowledge and preparation it need not be feared. Here are some tips that will ensure your next open water swim is as enjoyable as possible!
Lubricate wrists, ankles and neck to avoid chaffing and make your wetsuit easier to get off. Do not use Petroleum based lubricants as they can rot the fabric of the wetsuit.
Wear everything you plan to race in under your wetsuit (Trisuits are ideal); this can include your race number pinned to a top if you are not wearing a race belt.
Check the race course, is it better to be on one side of the starting pack of swimmers compared to the other? If you are not a confident swimmer then find a space and swim your own race. > READ FULL ARTICLE
Putting on a wetsuit comfortably and quickly is an art. Especially if you’re new to open water swimming. So we’ve put together an easy ‘how to’ guide to make this, often frustrating, task easier for you!
If you have never worn a Triathlon wetsuit you will be amazed at the difference wearing a suit specifically designed for these environments will make to not only your performance but also your overall swimming experience.
Firstly, you can choose between sleeveless and fullsleeve Triathlon wetsuits.
Sleeveless wetsuits allow for full, unrestricted range of motion and are easier on your shoulders. Also, you may prefer a sleeveless when swimming in warm water. > READ FULL ARTICLE
Hayden Godfrey is an Olympian, a three-time Commonwealth Games athlete having competed at Kuala Lumpur, Manchester and Melbourne, and was a member of the World Champion 2004 World Cup Series Team Pursuit Team. He has represented New Zealand for seven years in cycling, holds various New Zealand titles, predominantly in sprint racing and team pursuit, and is at present building toward the Beijing Olympics for gold.
Hayden’s tip of the month for budding cyclists out there:
“Equipment preparation is one of the key things to get right when entering any event and cycling is no exception. So many times I have seen people train their heart out only to have their big day ruined because something simple happened to their equipment. Sometimes it is worth spending a couple of extra dollars to be on the safe side.
Some things to check on your bike are tyres which should be new for the big day but not stuck on the night before the race! Also more often than necessary I see people break chains in races so change it out if the bike has done over several thousand kilometres, but do it a week out from the big day as it might skip if the cassette is old. > READ FULL ARTICLE
Hamish Carter hasn’t won the Olympics, 12 world cup titles, and a silver at last month’s world champs by pure talent alone (though he does have an incredible amount of that too!). He openly admits it takes hours of training and hard work to achieve all he has to date.
Hamish’s tip of the month for those budding triathletes out there:
“The key to being a good athlete is having good coaching from the start. Most athletes take at least five years of training to get the strength and knowledge to be fast. If you have a good coach to teach you this and train you properly every year will count and your path to > READ FULL ARTICLE
Brendon Downey – 
Swimming in open water is a vastly different experience to training in a swimming pool. But with the right knowledge and preparation it need not be feared. Here are some tips that will ensure your next open water swim is as enjoyable as possible!
Putting on a wetsuit comfortably and quickly is an art. Especially if you’re new to open water swimming. So we’ve put together an easy ‘how to’ guide to make this, often frustrating, task easier for you!
Hayden Godfrey is an Olympian, a three-time Commonwealth Games athlete having competed at Kuala Lumpur, Manchester and Melbourne, and was a member of the World Champion 2004 World Cup Series Team Pursuit Team. He has represented New Zealand for seven years in cycling, holds various New Zealand titles, predominantly in sprint racing and team pursuit, and is at present building toward the Beijing Olympics for gold.
Hamish Carter hasn’t won the Olympics, 12 world cup titles, and a silver at last month’s world champs by pure talent alone (though he does have an incredible amount of that too!). He openly admits it takes hours of training and hard work to achieve all he has to date.
