1514 Previous precooling procedures have utilised simultaneous reductions in skin (Tsk) and core temperatures to improve subsequent endurance exercise performance. The purpose of this study was to determine if a reduction in skin temperature without a concomitant reduction in core temperature would improve the performance of self-paced cycling under warm humid (31°C, 60% relative humidity) conditions. Seven males (24±SE 2yr, V O2peak 4.9±0.2 l.min−1) performed a 30 minute self-paced cycling time trial on two occasions. Conditions were counterbalanced as control (CON) or whole body precooling by water immersion (PC) so that resting mean skin temperature (Tsk) was decreased by ≈ 5-6°C. Following PC, Tsk was lower throughout exercise and rectal temperature (Tre) was lower (P<0.05) between 15 and 25 minutes of exercise. Consequently rate heat storage (HS) increased (P<0.05) from 176±26 to 356±42 W.m−2 following PC while total body sweating decreased from 1.7±0.1 to 1.2±0.1 l.min−1 (P<0.05). Following PC the distance cycled increased from 14.9±0.8 to 15.8±0.7 km (P<0.05). These results suggest that a reduced Tsk, in the absence of a simultaneous reduction in Tre mediate alterations in HS rate capacity and reduces thermal strain and increases the distance cycled in 30 min under warm humid conditions.