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
How about we just get rid of the stupid wedges and go back to starting from the pad?
I'm gonna hazard a guess that money is the reason the wedges will stay around. Omega and Colorado Timing Systems charge beaucoup bucks for their wedges and both are huge names in the equipment industry. Both companies make probably $600+ off of each backstroke wedge they sell, giving them a significant incentive to put pressure on the governing bodies to keep allowing wedges.
Two possible ways to resolve the slipping issue sans block mounted backstroke wedge:
1) Mandate a truly nonslip surface on touch pads
2) Create a touch pad that has some sort of spring loaded, automatically retracting platform
#1 is easily achievable--there are some pretty cool nonslip materials out there that could make backstroke start slipping a very rare occasion. #2, on the other hand, while probably technically feasible, would likely be far too mechanically complex to implement.
How about we just get rid of the stupid wedges and go back to starting from the pad?
I'm gonna hazard a guess that money is the reason the wedges will stay around. Omega and Colorado Timing Systems charge beaucoup bucks for their wedges and both are huge names in the equipment industry. Both companies make probably $600+ off of each backstroke wedge they sell, giving them a significant incentive to put pressure on the governing bodies to keep allowing wedges.
Two possible ways to resolve the slipping issue sans block mounted backstroke wedge:
1) Mandate a truly nonslip surface on touch pads
2) Create a touch pad that has some sort of spring loaded, automatically retracting platform
#1 is easily achievable--there are some pretty cool nonslip materials out there that could make backstroke start slipping a very rare occasion. #2, on the other hand, while probably technically feasible, would likely be far too mechanically complex to implement.
