No one really considers how challenging it can be to remove your wetsuit quickly until you try to do it. Learning to remove your wetsuit quickly is an important skill that every triathlete needs to master.

As a triathlete, you’re familiar with the 3 main disciplines: Swim, Bike and Run. But there is a fourth discipline that is often overlooked. The fourth discipline of triathlon is “The Transition,” and it’s just as important. Removing your wetsuit is likely the most challenging transition, here’s how to do it quickly without damaging your wetsuit.

Why Removing Your Wetsuit Quickly Matters

The shorter the race, the more critical it is to have a timely and efficient transition.

In the first transition from swim to bike (T1), the biggest element is removing your wetsuit quickly. Many races have moved away from using wetsuit peelers due to COVID restrictions. Meaning you are now required to remove your own suits.

You want to be as prepared for this transition as possible so that you can be quick and efficient. Otherwise, you’ll be wasting valuable time on your transition.

How To Remove Your Wetsuit Quickly

1. While exiting the water, open the velcro tab on the back of your wetsuit. Grab the zipper cord and pull down. The cord is generally left dangling or in a loop as long as it is easily accessible.
2. Pull each arm out and pull it down to your waist while running. If you wear a watch, don’t forget to remove that first!
3. Take your cap and goggles off. Hold them until you get to the location where you will take off your suit.
4. Drop the cap and goggles. Then start to pull down the lower half of the suit past the hips and down to your knees/mid calves area.
5. With one foot on top of the wetsuit, side step with the other leg (Repeat for the other side). You may need to use your hands to pull it off your feet. Pro tip: putting vaseline on your ankles/feet before the race will help the wetsuit come off easier as well.
6. Throw the suit over the rack next to your bike and continue on with transitioning to your bike gear.

Remember

Practice makes all the difference. Make sure to practice this sequence when finishing your open water swim sessions so that you can have faster transition times. Happy race season!

Read more: Your Key To Triathlon Success: Consistency