It is paper like material - repels water.  I liked it.  It is a sharp look as well - I bought the navyblue/royal blue suit.

Wow - sorry to hear  the mom from Wyoming story!!
We were warned by a tech suit retailer to be careful about putting fingers through the suit!!  Like putting on nylons and try to grab the suit at the seams!  We were given a full typed sheet on care and putting the suit on and taking it off instructions.
My daughter just wore the suit in a champ prelims race.  She dropped seconds( not hundreds of a second!). She kept looking at the times and rechecking her lane number.  couldn't believer her times. She is seated in the champ finals this weekend.  I think it was the combo of a good taper and the suit.
one note make sure you get the suit fitted so it comes up HIGH on the chest or water get in and drags you!

My daughter had worn the suit for one race .. maybe one hour and went to pull the leg down on her suit ..  three of her fingers went through her suit and left a huge hole. Needless to say she is a senior and was racing a championship race at state. We were broken hearted