Wetsuit removal

steve McQueen

Just got my new wetsuit. It fits perfectly but problem is it takes me about 10 minites to take off.

Any one got any hints in how I can get the suit off quickly in transistion?

tracto

10 mins :eek:

Try pushisg the suit down your legs as far as it will go then step on the left leg of the suit with your right foot and pull your left leg up fairly quickly and keep jerking it up until it comes out, then do the same for the right leg.

You might also try rubbing so lubrication on the outside of the suit around the ankle area and on you ankles as well to make it that bit easier to get it off. I've done it with vaseline a couple of times and it really makes a difference but vaseline aint the best thing to use as it can damage the suit. I've seen some people actually cut the ankles off their suits to really speed things up but that always seemed a bit extreme to me.

The longer you leave it to take off your suit after exiting the water the harder it gets to take off (as the water drains out and it sticks to you) so if theres a long run from the water to your bike try taking it off straight away.

Hope this helps!

CJhaughey

Use hair conditioner.

paulksnn

10 mins is a long time.
I specifically went down to hell of the west on sat. to see how the professionals do it.
Bodyglide on the ankles before putting the suit on is a must.
The pro's had their arms out by the time they entered transition.
They then bent over at the waist, and pulled the suit down their legs to mid-shin level (as far as they could go really).
They then did a very gangly movement of stepping on the suit with (say )the left foot onto the suit on the right hand side (to hold it down), and raised the right leg as high as possible(moving the suit further down to the ankles). Then they put the right foot down on the left side of the suit and repeated.
Two or three of those stepping movements and they had the suit off their legs in about 20 seconds.
I did see one guy take his off completely down at the waters edge though.

I can't speak for conditioner ,but the bodyglide does wonders - all the way around the foot as well though, not just the ankles.

hunnymonster

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au3xdfByccY

ozchick

a can of spray cooking oil when putting your suit on is the best tip - no messy hands and it should slide off much easier. Yes you should be half out of it by the time you get to your bike, even if you still have your swim cap on and goggles around your neck, at least have it down to your waist by then. The stand on the legs thing works a treat and while you are doing that you should be putting your helmet and goggles on at the same time. Do it while standing on a folded towel and your feet should be clean as well and ready to slip into your shoes!

paulksnn

A picture is definitely worth a thousand words

HardyEustace

Think that the trick is to get it off as soon as possible once you exit the water. The longer it has to "dry out" and drain the film of water between the wet suit and your body, the more difficult it will be to remove.

hunnymonster

well done on the weekend HardyE.


Some people pull the neck of their wetsuit out just before they exit the water. This allows water to swamp you and makes the suit easier to get off. I never remember, I'm usually in a daze of "thank f*** that's over, now for some fun!". It can also leave you cold for the first bit of the bike if you do it in Ireland.

CJhaughey

ozchick wrote: »

a can of spray cooking oil when putting your suit on is the best tip

This might work but your suit will deteriorate very quickly, neoprene is oil based and will quickly breakdown in the presence of oil.
But If you have some pics of how to....