Take a look at the press release posted on swiminfo.com: www.swiminfo.com/.../6949.asp
Here's a quote that bothers me:
By strategically increasing the surface area, TYR has increased his/her ability to pull without increasing any resistance through the recovery. Just think of it as ascending an aquatic ladder.
Should these be allowed? I would guess that they are o.k. as far as current rules read, but I don't like it. I think these sleeves amount to an aid, sort of like wearing paddles. I guess the question is: what constitutes a swimsuit? Obviously caps are o.k., so you can't argue that it must be one piece.
Former Member
"Trip Wire" on a cap? "Aqua Bands?" You know what? How about just getting in the pool and swimming? That Aqua Band thing better not get approved by anyone--it's not even a part of the freakin' suit?!?! "Increasing the surface area..." How about "artificial enhancement!!" It's cheating. Someone tell me otherwise before my head explodes.
Speaking of tripping the laminar flow, I always thought that body hair might be able to do the same thing.
Wondering if the advantage of shaving is increased feel, but advantage to not shaving may be tripping the laminar flow.
Hydrodynamically, that always made sense to me...
There's no way in the world that Aqua Bands should be considered a swim suit (or part of a swim suit)! If we're going to allow that, why not also allow "gloves" and "shoes" with webbing?
What this reveals, I believe, is just how much of a slippery slope we entered when full body suits were allowed. The argument now becomes: If it's okay to have a one-piece suit that covers your arms down to your wrists, then why not allow a three-piece "suit" where two of the "pieces" are wrist coverings?
I think the time has come to take a step backward. Throughout most of recent history, arm and leg coverings have not been a part of competitive swim suits. There is no reason to allow them now! FINA, USA swimming, and USMS need to take a firm stand against them.
Bob
Sorry, Mark but the triathlete argument about the watch and wrist band don't fly; everyone knows that triathletes aren't really swimmers! The are marginally good at three disciplines and have a whole lot of stored energy and time on their hands.
kidding.
In the USA Swimming test they state that "Nine elite-level swimmers (5 male, 4 female) participated in this investigation seeking to determine possible buoyancy and drag differences in FastskinTM and standard swimsuits."
The concluded tha the fast skins did reduce drag. Here is my question - were the "test subjects" shaved or unshaved? That is the only variable I did not see them account for.
Does anybody know?
Thanks,
Michael
We were discussing this in practice last night. I'm wondering if someone more familiar with the rules can tell us what is considered legal or illegal. (Or if it is somewhat vague, and up to the referees.)
You have to be careful of your definitions. For instance, if you demand that the suit be skin tight (so adding paddle-like extensions would not be valid), then you are also outlawing baggy shorts. (Although, that may not be a bad thing. :D )
During the summer, many triathletes wear a wristwatch, and a colored wrist (race) tag. Under Bob's definition, this would be considered a 3-piece suit with two of the pieces being wrist coverings.
It is an interesting topic of discussion that these new suits are presenting. How far can suit design go? In some ways I wish we could go back to the basics and require that each swimmer were the same type of suit, made out of the same material. I think this makes it more of a level playing field, instead of using equipment that aids in your speed. While I am at it, why not go back to swimming naked like the original olympic games. Of couse if we did that, then we would have to be on pay per view and not NBC. (See what Janet Jackson has done...lol).
Originally posted by Tom Ellison
Gosh, I have the perfect solution to the dilemma surrounding the use these new suits…and…frankly I have always been of mind that my solution is a great solution. SWIM NAKED! That will ensure an equal playing field….”Pun intended.”
The start could be a little dicey, but after that it would be o.k. :D
