I purchased my fastskin for Nationals last yr for Tempe and have only worn it for the Tempe and Rutgers meet. All the regular meets I just wear a regular speedo jammers. Out of curiosity I decided to wear the fastskin this past weekend in a USS meet being not tapered and see what type of results I would have. To my surprise, I could not believe the time drops from the previous week before where I just wore the regular jammers. Below are the differences.
50 free- 24.5 to a 23.8
100 free- 52.5 to a 50.9
200 free- 1:57.0 to a 1:52.9
100 fly - 56.6 to a 55.5
200 fly- 2:07.5 to a 2:03.2
I guess my question is. When at masters meets, I notice a lot wearing the fast skins. Sure I would like to swim fast all the time, but when Nationals rolls around, would it still have the same effect versus wearing it for first time that yr. I do believe in tapers and normally hit my tapers pretty well at the big meet, but in all honesty, I would like to continue to swim fast times in the not so big meets so I know what it feels like time wise so I can go into the "tank" and give it that little extra at the next meet.
For those wearing fastskins at all meets and attend Nationals, do you still have that significant drop?
Former Member
Two things come to mind:
If you only use the fast skin at meets, then your body won't get "used" to them and they will have the same effect. In a way your question implies that Fastskin works because it effects your brain, but that is not correct.
Second, most masters swimmers who wear fastskins do not replace them often enough. 4 meets tops is all you can expect to get out of one.
First of all, I do not think the fast skin effects my brain, in a positive way anyway. I find it uncomfortable, tight in the chest and constricting in the shoulders.
Secondly, the suit should only be worn for 4 meets? Seems like a big investment only to be able wear it a few times. This is what is recommended by the manufacturer or from experience? I can see where wearing it often may cause it to stretch and not have that "cat like" fitting.
Thirdly, it is the Speedo fast skin, full body minue the arms.
I will be wearing it again in 2 weeks for a pretty big USS meet and see if times stay around from last swim. However, I guess the test will be after the new year and I go back to just the regular jammers and seeing if times go up any.
Greg
born2fly, what do you say isn't correct because in swim there is always a mind influence.
for example, the depilation of leg reduce the drag, increase the sensation of water but also you know that this way make the swimmwer quickly and your mind is powered
If you want the help a reasonably fast suit can provide, but don't want the expense of using a Fastskin too often and wearing it out, you might try the Speedo Aquablade kneeskin suit. These are significantly cheaper and only a little slower, in my experience. I just got a new one on Ebay for $54 plus $6.95 in shipping.
I am not sure if Speedo still makes Aquablades, but they're a good compromise between speed and moolah. Alas, they also wear out reasonably fast.
I wear an Arena powerskin ONLY for nationals ... I consider it part of my taper. If I am going to put all the time, effort and trouble into getting myself as ready as possible to swim fast at the big meet twice a year, then I hold back and only bring out my full-length powerskin then. It is also part of the psychological routine for me. I don't swim all that impressively during the meat of the season, but always taper well and see a huge drop in times at nationals when crunch time comes around.
Also, for what it is worth, I have tried all the brands and like the Arena suit best -- I even wore one before they asked me to be one of their preferred athletes. I like the fabric much better.
- Maria Doelger
