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In the recent years there have been several changes in wetsuit and speedsuit rules, and these days it is easy to confuse one governing body's rules with another. We at XTERRA Wetsuits pride ourselves on keeping our wetsuits and speedsuits up to date with current rules and rule changes on the horizon. Listed below are the wetsuit and speedsuit rules for several triathlon sanctioning bodies:
World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), owners of the Ironman and Ironman 70.3 Series, have announced modifications to several rules and regulations relating to the swim at U.S. races. Effective September 1, 2010, new rules for apparel and wetsuits will apply at all Ironman and 70.3 events in the U.S., including both World Championships. The amendments were made to further standardize rules in the Ironman/70.3 Series and ensure a fair playing field at events around the globe.
All XTERRA Wetsuits (depending on water temperature) are legal under WTC regulations.
Section 4.02 WETSUIT RULES
(a) For age‐group athletes, wetsuits may be worn in water temperature up to and including 24.5 degrees C/76.1 degrees F
(*Please note: If the water temperature is above 24.5 degrees C/76.1 degrees F (but is less than or equal to 28.8 degrees C/83.8 degrees F) then, with respect to certain Events (e.g., Events sanctioned by USA Triathlon (“USAT”)), IRONMAN may, in its sole discretion, allow age‐group athletes to wear wetsuits and participate in a separate non‐competitive wetsuit wave/division, provided, however, that such athletes participating in the designated non‐competitive wetsuit wave/division will not be eligible for age‐group awards including, without limitation, IRONMAN World Championship slots or IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship slots);
(b) For professional athletes, wetsuits may be worn in water temperatures up to and including
21.9 degrees C/71.5 degrees F;
(c) A wetsuit may cover any part of the body except the face, hands, or feet;
(d) A race kit may be worn underneath the wetsuit;
(e) The thickness of the wetsuit may not exceed 5mm. If the wetsuit consists of two or more pieces then the combined thickness of the overlapping pieces may not exceed 5 mm; and
(f) Wetsuits are mandatory for professional athletes and age‐group athletes for water
temperatures below 16 degrees C/60.8 degrees F.
Section 4.03 SWIMWEAR POLICY WHEN THE USE OF WETSUITS IS PROHIBITED
(a) Swimwear must be 100% textile material, which is defined as materials consisting of natural and/or synthetic, individual and non‐consolidated yarns used to constitute a fabric by weaving, knitting and/or braiding (this generally refers to suits made only from nylon or lycra that do not have any rubberized material such as polyurethane or neoprene);
(b) Swimwear may contain a zipper;
(c) Sleeves that extend from shoulder to elbow may be worn;
(d) Wetsuit (neoprene) shorts/bottoms are prohibited; (ie. XTERRA LAVA PANTS/ LAVA SHORTS are NOT LEGAL under these rules)
(e) Swimwear must not cover the neck, must not extend past the elbow, and must not extend past the knees; and
(f) A textile race kit may be worn underneath swimwear, provided, however, that the textile race kit must not extend past the elbow and must not extend past the knees.
All rules that are not followed under the swimwear rules for Ironman will result in disqualification.
Only the XTERRA Velocity M and Valor series Speedsuits are legal under WTC regulations.
All XTERRA Wetsuits are and will continue to be legal (depending on water temperature) under USAT regulations.
4.4 Wetsuits. Each age group participant shall be permitted to wear a wetsuit without penalty in any event sanctioned by USA Triathlon up to and including a water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water temperature is greater than 78 degrees, but less than 84 degrees Fahrenheit, age group participants may wear a wetsuit at their own discretion, provided however that participants who wear a wetsuit within this temperature range shall not be eligible for prizes or awards. Age group participants shall not wear wetsuits in water temperatures equal to or greater than 84 degrees Fahrenheit.
The wetsuit policy for elite athletes shall be determined by the USAT Athletes Advisory Council. The AAC has set the wetsuit maximum temperature for elite athletes at 68 degrees for swim distances less than 3000 meters and 71.6 degrees for distances of 3000 meters or greater.
Any swimmer wearing a wetsuit with a thickness measured in any part greater than 5 millimeters shall be disqualified.
Our speedsuits are NOT legal for ITU rules based races, unless it is wetsuit legal, and the participant is choosing to race in this instead of a wetsuit. ITU states that in non-wetsuit legal races, you must complete the race in the same uniform as you start it in.
All XTERRA Speedsuits (Valor, Velocity M, Velocity 0.02, and the Velocity ++) are currently legal and will continue to be legal after January 1, 2013 under USAT regulations
For more information about USAT visit their site:http://www.usatriathlon.org or email:info@usatriathlon.org
