wetsuit removal
4914
Member
1716 days
beads1985 posted 13 weeks ago.
Bodyglide on the lower legs works for me. Do not use anything like Pam cooking spray.
It will break down your expensive wetsuit.
Nothing to it, but to do it
128
Member
161 days
J.Michael posted 13 weeks ago.
lube your forearms and lower legs with bodyglide, but never use petroleum based products (vaseline, ect) as it will degrade your wetsuit.
some people like to use the spray on their legs and into the arms of the wetsuit, but as long as you get those 2 areas, it should be eaiser to take off.
i also like to put a little bodyglide on my neck and armpit crease for a little extra comfort.
when taking off the wetsuit, most races will allow you to start peeling it off coming out of the water, but some will not. check with your race director as to when you can start taking it off to avoid penalty.
if possible, get the arms off 1st on the way to transition and let it hang around your waist.
then once in transition, peel the waist past your knees, and then one foot out at a time. (unless you're really crafty.) your wetsuit should now be inside out for the most part and you should be well on your way to the bike portion of your race.
also, take care when taking the leg with your chip out of the wetsuit, as flinging your chip around the transition area is a great way to stretch out your T1 times.
hope this helps a bit. (it works for me)
24
Member
117 days
Tri-grit posted 13 weeks ago.
+1 on bodygide on forearms and ankles and calves.
Also, once you have stripped the suit down to below your knees, step on the crotch of the suit with one foot and do a high-knee lift with the other foot. Your foot should pop right out. Repeat with the other foot.
Practice this with the suit wet (obviously) before your race.
If you have problems getting the suit stuck at the ankle/heel, consider trimming the legs of the suit.
202
Member
1181 days
ht001 posted 13 weeks ago.
+ another one on body glide and starting the removal process for the upper body as you are exiting the water. Never tried stepping on my suit as Tri-grit suggests, but if I do try that I'll need to be sure I'm in a protected area. My approach to getting off my suit diverges once it's off my hips and thighs.....granted I know this probably won't help you (especially for your race today), but if you find you have difficulty it might at least allow you to see that you're not alone, and that there are options.
For some reason I have had significant difficulty getting my wetsuit off my calves and over my feet. There were some races where fellow tripeeps in transition took pity on me as I struggled and helped by pulling it off that last bit. Last year I ended up having the suit altered (by a wetsuit and outdoor gear seamstress in town) at the start of the season so that now I have 8 inch zippers at the calf of my suit. Now after removing the top half of the suit on my jaunt from the water to my spot in TA, I reach back pull the zippers up and viola the suit comes off...like butta. Probably the best $50 I've spent on my tri gear.
Let us know how the race went....
24
Member
117 days
Tri-grit posted 13 weeks ago.
I didn't see that his race is today. Hope all went well in his T1.
Slick idea on the ankle zipper. I know of at least one mfr who makes them with zippers on the legs (e.g., ProMotion), but never thought about adding them in.
1821
Member
1080 days
tri-ac posted 13 weeks ago.
open the neck of the wetsuit just before getting out of the water to let in some water
this allows a layer of water between you and the wetsuit and it will slide right off (the sooner you strip it off the better; otherwise the water drains out and you're back to relying on body glide)
Adam
Tri-ac
Are there any things that help remove a wetsuit faster and easier. I have my first tri in 2 years tomorrow. Does Body Glide or something else help and if so do you put it over your whole body or just a few important places.