Why wear wetsuits

This is possible because the wetsuits have a hydrophobic outer layer. The layer contains rubber that has a unique treatment. The treatment has the same effect as Teflon. Because the surface is slippery, swimmers can glide through the water more efficiently without any surface friction. The design should also be considered. If a wetsuit is designed properly for a specific swimmer, overall comfort improves because there will be less chaffing while swimming.

When a wetsuit is used, water will gain access. However, too much water will affect the suits overall weight. When this happens, overall speed and buoyancy will decrease. This is why swimmers must choose the proper wetsuit design. Flexibility is very important too because it helps a swimmer move freely in the water. If a suit is not flexible, basic stoke rotation movements will be challenging. A wetsuit should not be too restrictive near the throat and torso.

If a wetsuit does not fit properly, the process of breathing will be tough. When a wetsuit is the proper size, basic swimming performance increases. However, a wetsuit should not be too baggy because too much water will access the suit. There is no sense stressing over the swim when you approach it with safety in mind. And don't worry, we're not going to recommend swim floaties next. This one is easy, everyone benefits from swimming in colder water with a wetsuit.

But if you live in a warmer climate, don't write that wetsuit off just yet. There are plenty of other reasons why you'll need a wetsuit. Buoyancy plays into many factors of the swim as well as the rest of the race. The more buoyant you are the higher your body floats in the water, and the higher you are in the water, the less effort you expell with each stroke.

Attack the swim portion with a wetsuit and your body will thank you during the run portion. A little extra gas in the tank near the end of a race never hurt anyone. Yes, we are going to get all scientific on you for a second. These coatings do more than just keep you warm, they repell water. If you wear a wetsuit for a race, you are more than just a docile swimmer enjoying the sights; you are a torpedo shooting past the competition.

Halfway through the swim you'll completely forget what the person that started next to you looks like. We're not going to pretend we know fashion, but have you ever seen a triathlete sprinting out of a lake, water beads cascading in every direction? Having a black wetsuit also means it absorbs more of the sun's heat energy which helps to keep you warmer in the water on sunny days. When you're paddling you arch your back in such a way that your ribs tend to push down into your board.

If you're not wearing a wetsuit or rash vest then your ribs stomach and chest can get a rash from your surfboard. However, if you're wearing a wetsuit then you have a layer of protection between you and your board.

Your wetsuit rubs on the board but your skin stays protected and minimizes board rash. Some surfers are good enough that companies want to sponsor them. After all, who wouldn't want to wear the same wetsuit as their favorite pro surfer. Seeing a pro surfer wearing a certain wetsuit brand is an endorsement of that brand and makes you more likely to purchase it. But again the primary reason is warmth. The same surfer might wear that brand board shorts or rash vest in warm water instead of a wetsuit.

This isn't really a reason that surfers wear wetsuits but it is one of the minor benefits of having a wetsuit. The neoprene rubber foam that wetsuits are made out of contain thousands of tiny little nitrogen air bubbles. This makes the wetsuit buoyant in the water and when wearing it you float slightly better as a surfer.

However, wetsuits restrict your movement and make swimming and paddling harder so this kind of counteracts the increase buoyancy and it really isn't needed for another except big wave surfers, and they use life jackets when surfing anyway.

So many surfers wear wetsuit that you might think it's some sort of requirement to surfing or there is some major reason surfers wear them. You do NOT need to wear a wetsuit to surf.

Wetsuits actually make paddling and movement harder. Wetsuits are just worn to keep surfers warm. If the water is warm enough or you don't feel the cold then surfing in board shorts or swimmers is also fine. When the water is extremely cold chances are you will need to wear a wetsuit when surfing otherwise the water will sap you of all your energy and make you shivering and cold. So there you have a few of the reasons people wear wetsuits when surfing.

It's not required but they do keep you warm and have some other minor benefits as well. When you're wearing a tight body suit made of thick foam that fills up with water it makes moving your arms harder. While surfing wetsuits are designed to be thinner and more flexible in the arms they still make paddling hard and more difficult.