sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../index.html
From the man whose WR has been broken four times in the last two months.....
I like his attitude. He could never be a USMS swimmer. Too much whining here about everything.
As a masters swimmer, I think it is much more complicated. Fortress made the comment that only the overly-principled or under-funded would not get the suit, but I beg to differ. Maybe I am wrong, but I am not at all sure that my enjoyment of the sport would be greatly enhanced by, roughly, an additional $550 per year even if I gained an additional 1-2% on my times (and I am not sure that I would).
The cost isn't just monetary. I read the thread about the FS Pro and the trials and tribulations in putting one on, the risk of ripping it, keeping it dry -- all things that may be worse with the LZR -- and all I think is, "thank God I don't go through all that before my races." The ONLY thing the suit potentially has going for it is speed, in ALL other respects it is worse than its predecessors.
Now if a technical suit existed that was comfortable, durable, reasonably priced AND was faster than briefs/jammers, you can sign me up for that! We'll probably get there at some point.
I'm with Paul on this one. I love the feel of the Pro in the water. It's worth the huge hassle of putting it on. I wore an old FS II in practice the other day. Hated it! Most of the water repellancy was gone, but it felt heavy and sodden. So I can't go back. It sounds like there will be less expensive alternatives to the LZR anyway. Although I'm hoping my current Pro will last awhile. My last one did.
Fort and Paul, I've never worn anything but the FSII so maybe it would be different if I tried something else, I dunno. I've talked to the UR swimmers and have gotten various opinions about the tech suits but all agree that the FSPro feels better than the FSII. Fitting is an issue -- I have a long torso and short legs -- and I am in no particular rush. Some day I'll go to a meet where I can try on different sizes, if I feel the urge.
Galen, I agree with you for myself but I would never presume to define what IS or ISN'T swimming for anyone else. If Fort and Paul say they like the feeling of the tech suits better, more power to them.
What's the saying? Oh, yes...IT'S ONLY MASTERS...to each his own.
Note that we are now over 40 WRs for this year, and we haven't had US Olympic trials or the Olympics yet. Also note that the 1976 Olympics were where lycra suits were introduced. I think some people have alleged that there was some doping going on at those games as well...
Of course, the number of world records set is just a convenient indicator of the value of interest which is drops in time. If you drop the record ten times each time by 0.01 it is still 10 world records while if you drop it by 0.5 in one go it is only 1 world record. What you really want to see is the progression of times over the years.
Yuck, that's not my experience, even in a wetsuit -- with all its buoyancy -- I don't appreciate the lack of connection to, or feedback from, the water.
Hey, maybe its an acquired taste! I seem to recall vaguely that I disliked my first taste of beer too. Definitely not the case now, though.
Gasp! I’m running out of breath on the issue of tech suits. :blah:
As I’ve said many times before, tech suits minimize the sensation of having your body in the water and I could never acquire a taste for what amounts to “taking a bath with your clothes on”. In addition to loss of sensation, they are a hassle to get in and out of and produce chaffing. On the other hand, briefs maximize the aquatic sensation and they are simple to put on.
I recall that Alex Popov wore simple briefs for his record setting performance and they should be the world standard suit – end of debate.
If you ain’t getting’ wet all over, you ain’t really swimin’. :agree:
Dolphin 2
Regardless of all the issues of wearing one of these suits...the feeling it brings is unparalled. I don't need to go with the LZR yet, simply using my Arena and just recently the new FS Pro does the same thing. Regardless of what they say, the sensation of buoyancy is felt...add in shaving/clipping and a taper and the feeling is one of the more special things I've experienced as an athlete.
Hmmm... You know, I've not yet worn a full body suit. I've been thinking more about it because of this forum. One question I have is, do you still have to shave under the suit? I'd trade shaving down for putting on a tricky suit.... Up until now though I've just been wearing a Jammer, which has other benefits...
Fort and Paul, I've never worn anything but the FSII so maybe it would be different if I tried something else, I dunno. I've talked to the UR swimmers and have gotten various opinions about the tech suits but all agree that the FSPro feels better than the FSII. Fitting is an issue -- I have a long torso and short legs -- and I am in no particular rush. Some day I'll go to a meet where I can try on different sizes, if I feel the urge.
Galen, I agree with you for myself but I would never presume to define what IS or ISN'T swimming for anyone else. If Fort and Paul say they like the feeling of the tech suits better, more power to them.
What's the saying? Oh, yes...IT'S ONLY MASTERS...to each his own.
...
Wasn't there a post in one of these threads that said that shaving increased speed because it reduced sensation and that body suits acted in the same way? I'm sure it would be only one of several effects but found it interesting.
I wonder if it could be something that varies from person to person with some people suffering from over stimulation and others actually benefiting from sensation? I wonder if anyone ever experimented with reducing skin sensation with local anesthetic or something along those lines to test the hypothesis.
The only real issue in USMS championship events might be if there was a limited number of entires allowed and the wetsuit people started pushing out the non-wetsuit people due to the limit being reached. There could be some bad blood over that.
That would be a nice problem to have. In my experience, there is usually the opposite problem: not very many entries, even in national championships. Having wetsuit categories can help boost entries. I think USMS wants to use OW swims as a way to reach triathletes and get them interested in masters swimming.
But there are probably going to be some races where large numbers are a problem. I think it should be left to the race director to decide how to handle such cases -- eg, a separate start or eliminate the wetsuit category -- rather than legislate from on high. The directors would be most familiar with the course and conditions.
Still, triathlons often have 2000 entries and if THEY can do it, why can't we?
On the controversy about whether the world’s records were being legitimately earned by those who wear LZRs, Fastskins, etc., there was an idea I read in the article about how a similar controversy could be resolved about neoprene wet suits in open water meets (see the contents of SWIMMER magazine shown on the right side of the USMS home page).
As far as ordinary indoor pool racing is concerned, in addition to the present “technically assisted swimming” category (where technical suits are allowed), just have a separate “pure athletic swimming” category (where only minimal suiting is allowed) and the same swimmers compete wearing just ordinary briefs. Also this category would have its own separate world record listings. :agree:
Based on Alex Popov’s general comments on the art of swimming, the latter case would resolve the question about who in fact really is "The world’s fastest swimmer". :applaud:
If you ain’t gettin’ wet all over, you ain’t really swimmin’.
Dolphin 2
On the controversy about whether the world’s records were being legitimately earned by those who wear LZRs, Fastskins, , etc., there was an idea I read in the article about how a similar controversy could be resolved about neoprene wet suits in open water meets (see the contents of SWIMMER magazine shown on the right side of the USMS home page).
Hmmmm.... I'd missed that - thanks. WRT the wetsuit thing, I don't really see the problem - make two categories and be done with it. Personally, I'd never use a wetsuit, but I see no real reason to be elistist about it. Besides, if the sharks get enough of the seal-looking swimmers, Darwinism will take care of the rest in time.
The only real issue in USMS championship events might be if there was a limited number of entires allowed and the wetsuit people started pushing out the non-wetsuit people due to the limit being reached. There could be some bad blood over that.
-LBJ
