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Youkai
Since 08 Feb 2010
553 Posts
Beaverton
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 Wed Jun 08, 11 8:37 pm New tool for big wave riders |
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Billabong has a new wetsuit with an inflatable bladder for when you get sucked under a gnarly wave. I could see this also being useful for open water swimmers (tri/iron man athletes). I'm definitely interested since I will be training for Tri's soon. I was wondering if something like this existed.
Not sure how/if this would work with a kite but it if it will work above your harness it has the potential to save some people that get caught in kitemares.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rVDpqkrUV_Y
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Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4297 Posts
Camas
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| Wed Jun 08, 11 11:17 pm |
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I know it's hard to believe looking at me now, but I used to run Ironman triathlons... Before I got run over and got broke into a few dozen pieces. Anyways, you don't want that suit for triathlon. You want a tri specific suit. They're different. Thinner on top for flexibility, thicker on the bottom to help you maintain good position for swimming speed. Easier to take off for transitions. If you wore a surfing/kiteboarding wetsuit in a triathlon you'd be slower and you'd overheat.
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Iron Mike .jpg |
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Youkai
Since 08 Feb 2010
553 Posts
Beaverton
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| Thu Jun 09, 11 5:09 am |
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Good points Nak. Let me rephrase then. I might be training for some tri/Iron man type stuff next year and I have been thinking that something like this would be nice for if you are out in the water and just run out of energy. Maybe not that exact one but something that initially provided basically no buoyancy but you could inflate in a second if your other option was drowning.
Congrats on finishing by the way. Serious accomplishment.
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Captain kook; always wrong. |
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hilton
Since 15 Aug 2008
801 Posts
Opinionated
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| Thu Jun 09, 11 7:02 am |
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It looks like that bubble on your back would tend to float you face down in the water once you reach the surface and you would have to fight it a bit to keep your head up - not good if you are injured or exhausted and out of breath.
There are several fanny pack style inflatable PFDs on the market now.
They are popular for flatwater SUPers who don't want to wear a vest, but are required to carry one.
I prefer a regular impact vest/PFD for kiting since you can use the extra flotation when relaunching your kite or body dragging for your board rather than just in an emergency situation.
http://www.northshoreinc.com/store/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=14&idproduct=291#details
All wetsuits will give you some positive buoyancy, and for triathlon/swimming that is a good thing - all the time. A good triathlon wetsuit floats you higher in the water, allowing you to swim faster with less effort. It's a real competitive advantage, even if you don't need the warmth.
Last edited by hilton on Thu Jun 09, 11 7:13 am; edited 1 time in total |
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FlyDunes
Since 09 Oct 2007
1034 Posts
Aloha
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| Thu Jun 09, 11 7:09 am |
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IDK about most people, but when I'm in big surf and I don't want to get clobbered, I want to be as far UNDER the water as possible at times ...
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WINDUDE
Since 10 Jun 2010
558 Posts
GORGE!
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| Thu Jun 09, 11 7:18 am |
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everyone should check out Portland Xterra triathlon, did it last year, good times, Aug 13th!!
yeah that suit is no bueno for tri's
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mschulz
Since 29 May 2007
530 Posts
Reno, NV
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| Thu Jun 09, 11 7:26 am |
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To me, this looks like the beginning of the end for big waver surfing. Now everyone is going to want to do it because it looks safe! It is like the invention of fat skis. Now look at a powder day - The lines our out past the gaits 1/2 hour before lifts open.
I love that fact that we might not loose as many big wave surfers, but isn't the danger kind of the point?
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Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4297 Posts
Camas
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| Thu Jun 09, 11 7:45 am |
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Thanks Youkai! I wish I could still run long distance, I love that. After my accident I can't run more than a couple of miles without things going bad.  The guy was doing nearly 60mph when he hit me--I was running--I got busted up pretty bad. Not everything healed properly...
| Youkai wrote: | | Good points Nak. Let me rephrase then. I might be training for some tri/Iron man type stuff next year and I have been thinking that something like this would be nice for if you are out in the water and just run out of energy. |
Understandable concern, but you'll find you won't need it. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big believer in wearing flotation; I wear a LF impact vest that doubles as flotation while kiteboarding. But you shouldn't need it for a Tri or while training. Don't forget, you won't be swimming till you're exhausted, you need to conserve energy for the bike and the run. For now, put your time in at the pool. Take a few lessons from a coach. (Make sure they know your goal is distance/Tri swimming. ) Start out thinking Olympic or sprint length Triathlons, so you're thinking 1.5 Km swims. ( .75KM for the Sprint. ) Work your pool swims up to 2 Km. Learn Bi-lateral breathing; learn to breath on both sides while swimming. (Once every 1.5 strokes ) If you haven't done that before it'll seem pretty hard at first.
Learn to float. You should be able to float with next to no effort. Read up on it and practice. Before you go open water, you need to be able to be confident in your ability to float even if you're very tired. If you don't feel that you could rest and recuperate while floating, you're not ready for open water. Practice your floating till you are.
On your first open water swim, either stay close to shore or have a boat follow you. If you're in an area with powerboats, ABSOLUTELY have a boat follow you. Pick a course with little to no chop for your first few swims. You'll be amazed, open water swimming--sans heavy swell or chop--is easier than the pool. If you're doing 2Km in the pool, 1.5KM open water will be cake--especially with a Tri-specific wetsuit on.
Good luck and have fun!!!!!
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Youkai
Since 08 Feb 2010
553 Posts
Beaverton
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| Thu Jun 09, 11 7:59 am |
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Thanks for the advice Nak. I go to the gym week-mornings before work and swim then lift weights. Right now I can't swim that far but I do 5-stroke cycle breathing. When my friend and I are ready to do open water swims we will probably see about getting a Kayak or SUP and having one person do that while the other swims then switch. That way at the beginning at least we will have a safety in case we do over estimate our abilities. The inflatable SUP looks tempting at the moment since it can pack down to inside a vehicle.
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Captain kook; always wrong. |
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barfly
Since 31 Mar 2005
1214 Posts
Portland
BRACKISH
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| Thu Jun 09, 11 8:29 am |
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| mschulz wrote: | To me, this looks like the beginning of the end for big waver surfing. Now everyone is going to want to do it because it looks safe! It is like the invention of fat skis. Now look at a powder day - The lines our out past the gaits 1/2 hour before lifts open.
I love that fact that we might not loose as many big wave surfers, but isn't the danger kind of the point? |
News flash.
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OG
Since 07 Jun 2011
597 Posts
Addicted
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| Thu Jun 09, 11 9:14 am |
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| nah, waves, cold water, and sharks up here will keep the real estate open, or open enough. that thing looks like it could help in the right situations for the right people, it could also suck you to the top just in time to take one on the head.
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Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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