The backstroke wedges have been malfunctioning.
I didn't want to hijack Allen's thread about the "FINA Worlds Controversy" but his comment about the backstroke starts is something I've thought about a lot.
The swim events that I participate in are pretty much non-meet type events. So, I don't really have much experience with the starts in pool events. Consequently, there will probably be some disagreement with my comment, or just plane refusal to consider it. But I've talked with numerous swimmers who've had issues with backstroke starting "wedges" and/or handles, and other backstroke start related equipment. And, I've seen lots of complaints about that same equipment here in the swim forums. But...why in the world won't FINA take steps to have backstroke start up on the blocks like the other strokes and eliminate all that backstroke start equipment as a problem? Make it so that backstrokers dive into the water just like all the other strokes, and have to surface by the 15m line and first stroke must be on their back. Wouldn't that make things so much easier?
Dan
Just regarding the backstroke wedges, none of the standup starts or dive starts mentioned here...
It's likely not an issue at meets like Worlds or Nationals, or other major meets like that, but one factor for pools is the cost of backstroke wedges. There are no cheap backstroke wedges out there--last I checked, the Colorado Time Systems ones retail for over $650 apiece. The only price I've found online for the Omega ones used at major FINA meets is over $1200 (AUD) apiece. Finis has a fixed one that I think retails for ~$250 apiece, though I have not seen one in the wild to see how well it works, but none of those are in a price range that's easily achievable for most pools out there.
Just regarding the backstroke wedges, none of the standup starts or dive starts mentioned here...
It's likely not an issue at meets like Worlds or Nationals, or other major meets like that, but one factor for pools is the cost of backstroke wedges. There are no cheap backstroke wedges out there--last I checked, the Colorado Time Systems ones retail for over $650 apiece. The only price I've found online for the Omega ones used at major FINA meets is over $1200 (AUD) apiece. Finis has a fixed one that I think retails for ~$250 apiece, though I have not seen one in the wild to see how well it works, but none of those are in a price range that's easily achievable for most pools out there.
