It seems to me like the swimsuit situation has gotten a bit out of hand. Prices are high; LZRs are unavailable; swimskins are legal for USMS pool meets... the list continues.
With the fabrics, I think we can all agree neoprene should remain illegal for pool meets. But beyond that, who's to say what is and what isn't? It will be tough with all the new technology, and as we're seeing today with Speedo and BlueSeventy being FINA sponsors, it will be tough to knock the gift horse in the mouth.
Most of these new suits are body suits. Why not try to limit the effect a suit has on a performance by limiting the amount of suit that can affect performance? It is a stretch to get back to "briefs" and "recordbreakers," as already, women have a fabric advantage. But why not put a limit on the total amount of fabric that can be used, or the total amount of acceptable body coverage?
Small step to take, and in the end, to make the genders fair, we probably wouldn't lose much suit. But I think it is rediculous to see people completely covered at the pool. Their swims should be all about them - not what they and their suit can accomplish.
It's turning a financial advantage into a competitive advantage.
Nah, not for masters. I don't recall seeing anyone at Nats who wasn't in some kind of technical suit, usually the one they prefered. Bodyskins galore. I don't think that can be the issue. The only issue is whether the suit is illegally performance enhancing under FINA rules. Besides, "financial advantage" is already present in other areas such as the ability to afford massages, traveling to fast pools, multiple gyms/teams, not to work, etc etc. For example, I'm sure if I traveled to Clovis next May instead of swimming at GMU, my times would be faster. Not happening.
I worry about it more at the age group level. Those kids race frequently, and the technical suits no longer seem to be confined to the big meet. They wear them all the time. Where I am, the Pro seems common at big meets. And my kid already knows a 13 year old who wore a LZR to a regular USS meet. (How did she get it?!)
I am also sympathetic to the argument that suits like the LZR should be available to all at Trials or the Olympics. But that is a completely different issue than whether bodysuits should be banned or regulated. I just find that to be ridiculous. As for "guilt" and the like, huh? I think we are all old and wise enough to understand that, under identical training/taper conditions, if you have a brand new Pro or LZR, you'll go somewhat faster than using a drag suit on older heavier bodysuit. I have no personal issues with this. I like going fast and I like the bodysuits. But for those of you that like brief and jammers and tanks for the "feel" of the water, wear them for goodness sake. But don't call the rest of us bad guys or morally bankrupt. To each his own!
As for Dolphin's comment that it's like "taking a bath with your clothes on," I have no idea what he's talking about, as usual. Sounds like he needs a time machine.
It's turning a financial advantage into a competitive advantage.
Nah, not for masters. I don't recall seeing anyone at Nats who wasn't in some kind of technical suit, usually the one they prefered. Bodyskins galore. I don't think that can be the issue. The only issue is whether the suit is illegally performance enhancing under FINA rules. Besides, "financial advantage" is already present in other areas such as the ability to afford massages, traveling to fast pools, multiple gyms/teams, not to work, etc etc. For example, I'm sure if I traveled to Clovis next May instead of swimming at GMU, my times would be faster. Not happening.
I worry about it more at the age group level. Those kids race frequently, and the technical suits no longer seem to be confined to the big meet. They wear them all the time. Where I am, the Pro seems common at big meets. And my kid already knows a 13 year old who wore a LZR to a regular USS meet. (How did she get it?!)
I am also sympathetic to the argument that suits like the LZR should be available to all at Trials or the Olympics. But that is a completely different issue than whether bodysuits should be banned or regulated. I just find that to be ridiculous. As for "guilt" and the like, huh? I think we are all old and wise enough to understand that, under identical training/taper conditions, if you have a brand new Pro or LZR, you'll go somewhat faster than using a drag suit on older heavier bodysuit. I have no personal issues with this. I like going fast and I like the bodysuits. But for those of you that like brief and jammers and tanks for the "feel" of the water, wear them for goodness sake. But don't call the rest of us bad guys or morally bankrupt. To each his own!
As for Dolphin's comment that it's like "taking a bath with your clothes on," I have no idea what he's talking about, as usual. Sounds like he needs a time machine.
