New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:55:04 GMT

...this is a pretty mental sport. If only I was allowed to take this quote out of context...

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

rtodd — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:39:57 GMT

Speaking of track, a comparatively-baggy tank top didn't stop Usain Bolt from setting a new world record in the 100-meter dash a couple of weeks ago: Yea, I noticed that too and what a great place to break the record.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:40:13 GMT

LOL....only if I the wisdom about swimming that I do now when I swam for you at Peddie...I may not have given you and the rest of the coaches so many grey hairs...

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

The Fortress — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 02:46:39 GMT

Like I said, I really thought blue was her color. I did just purchase a blue bikini. Thanks Wookiee. :blush::blush: I promise I don't smoke.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:50:03 GMT

To compare this to running: Consider that some sprinters (in track) have adopted a full-body suit to reduce drag and wind resistance. And who would show up at the Olympics in track spikes made in, say, 1950, 1980, or even 2000? The innovations in equipment make for faster times and world records. Speaking of track, a comparatively-baggy tank top didn't stop Usain Bolt from setting a new world record in the 100-meter dash a couple of weeks ago: www.youtube.com/watch

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:34:38 GMT

I'm glad I wasn't the one who made the comment. Like I said, I really thought blue was her color.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:18:32 GMT

The most innocent things are misconstrued by the seemingly innocent ... :D I'm glad I wasn't the one who made the comment. I resisted. :p

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

mattson — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:41:29 GMT

But why not put a limit on the total amount of fabric that can be used, or the total amount of acceptable body coverage? cats out of the bag ... tech suits have been around for since 1992 And the total-amount-of-fabric limit has been exceeded a century ago.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:46:16 GMT

Hi Muppet, PArob83, & Jazz Hands: Hey it’s nice to have someone who agrees with me for a change. This suit technology has turned into a Pandora’s Box and it’s just making a mockery of what “was” an elite athletic art. :( Adolf Kiefer had the right idea when he came up with the idea of briefs as the world standard for the athletic swim suit. His objective was to minimize the role of the suit and this concept worked quite eloquently in terms of emphasizing true competitiveness of the sport -and also maximizing comfort in the water (instead of the "taking a bath with your clothes on" sensation you get wearing a tech suit). Briefs worked quite well for nearly 40 years and I wish we could “Tivo” back to the mid 1970s rules about minimizing the suit (and other parts & substances applied to the body) and freeze them at that time. :cheerleader: Dolphin 2

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:25:16 GMT

Why do people feel "guilty" in bodysuits and morally superior in tanks and briefs? Guilty?!?! Not comprehending that at all. Let everyone wear what they want to wear as long as it's legal. It's turning a financial advantage into a competitive advantage.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:17:33 GMT

Ha! Guess I'll switch to the brief too. Oh wait. I can't. Unless I swim topless. Here, here.....I vote for this unilaterally and unanimously........Briefs for all swimmers from now on!!!!!!!!:applaud::woot::groovy::thhbbb:

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:18:10 GMT

Would Michael Phelps and all the other elite swimmers of today be able to win Gold in Beijing this summer without a technical suit? Would records set in pre-LZR days be broken without them wearing the LZR? Who knows for sure? Obviously this thread is gonna have people who feel strongly one way or the other...but now that I am not swimming for someone anymore--aka college scholarship and school titles/ championships etc...I'm more interested in seeing how fast I can swim...without super whole body compression and ultra water repellent suits... I would love to set a masters world record in a plain old everyday practice suit...when the rest of the field is wearing technical suits...to me...thats the measure of success...plus I'd feel that much better being able to say...and dang I could have gone even faster had I worn the same $300 suit as the rest of them all.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Chris Stevenson — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:12:36 GMT

I am sympathetic to the proposal partly because I do worry what expensive, short-lived and fragile tech suits do to the sport at the age group level. (As an aside, I have hope for the swimskins, I've examined some at the local tri store and they seem to me far sturdier than the fastskins). In terms of impact on performance, perhaps a useful parallel would be changes in the rules in backstroke (allowing no-touch flip turns) and breaststroke that improved speed. I'm much more familiar with backstroke, of course...when the rule was passed, my times immediately dropped significantly; I once estimated that it was almost half a second per turn. (And at the end of a 200, when tired...those old turns took a LOT more effort!) Records fell, everyone's expectations had to undergo some modification and then life went on. It can be argued that the tech suits are a little different since doing a different turn or stroke is (a) free and (b) a skill that the swimmer has to master, not something that depends on someone else (like Speedo or NASA engineers). No question about the first part, but swimming with these suits also demands some changes in behavior and skill on the part of the swimmer. It isn't as much fun to learn, IMO, but what can you do, life isn't always perfect.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

The Fortress — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:38:35 GMT

I realize however that it would take a major overhaul of the entire swimming organizations in order to go back to the days of swimming in real swim suits rather than laser fused seamless body suits. Bodysuits are real suits. What's so good about the old days? I don't want to go back to penny loafers and huge shoulder pads. Why should I wear a suit from circa 1960? Why is that better or more real? Why do people feel "guilty" in bodysuits and morally superior in tanks and briefs? Guilty?!?! Not comprehending that at all. Let everyone wear what they want to wear as long as it's legal. I completely agree with Wookiee's post. Plus, If you haven't trained properly, no suit is going to swim the race for you. If I hopped in the pool right now with my Pro, I'd suck. My next meet I'm planning on wearing my old Pro with no water repellancy because I just like it better than tanks. Not a lot of advantage from wearing an old suit. I just prefer it to racing in a tank.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:15:28 GMT

The most innocent things are misconstrued by the seemingly innocent ... I feel good about my tech suits even when I get beaten by people in jammers and tanks. They're usually younger and value compression less. :D Fort...you don't need to compress anything... ur smokin!

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:11:44 GMT

The most innocent things are misconstrued by the seemingly innocent ... I thought blue was your color.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:36:56 GMT

:censor: Did Fort really say she likes "long and black"? :censor:

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:17:41 GMT

I can honestly say that I don't feel as good about my swims/times when wearing a technical suit as I do when I accomplish similarly good swims in a regular old recordbreaker style suit... I feel very good about them, except when I am beaten by someone (like Geek) wearing a coventional pair of jammers. Did Fort really say she likes "long and black"?

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:08:54 GMT

Well said Wookie. I'm trying hard to not be a stick in the mud all the time. Just ordered my blueseventy nero comp. We'll see. . . As technology gets better...things change. Why is golfers love the new new clubs and balls, why is it runners like new, lighter shoes, bikers like new lightweight bikes? Yet, heaven forbide swimming take advantage of improvements in pools, racing lane lines, blocks and ohhh..shock...suits! Look, we can't go back to the 70's...80's...90's. The suits are here to stay, so stop crying over them. If you don't want to wear them, fine, don't. If you don't want to get beat by someone wearing them, out train them. Said it once, the suits can't do the swimming! Too many people are giving credit to the suits and not the athletes wearing the suits. Did anyone take time to think that maybe all the hype around the suits have boosted the athlete's mental side, so they think by wearing them they will swim faster and then the ATHLETE...not the suit, goes out there and swims faster because they believed they could? After all, this is a pretty mental sport.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:17:17 GMT

As technology gets better...things change. Why is golfers love the new new clubs and balls, why is it runners like new, lighter shoes, bikers like new lightweight bikes? Yet, heaven forbide swimming take advantage of improvements in pools, racing lane lines, blocks and ohhh..shock...suits! Look, we can't go back to the 70's...80's...90's. The suits are here to stay, so stop crying over them. If you don't want to wear them, fine, don't. If you don't want to get beat by someone wearing them, out train them. Said it once, the suits can't do the swimming! Too many people are giving credit to the suits and not the athletes wearing the suits. Did anyone take time to think that maybe all the hype around the suits have boosted the athlete's mental side, so they think by wearing them they will swim faster and then the ATHLETE...not the suit, goes out there and swims faster because they believed they could? After all, this is a pretty mental sport.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

Former Member — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:10:55 GMT

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'm considering wearing briefs at Nationals this summer. Part of it is because of the cost, but also I found myself fidgeting with my suits way too much at Austin to prevent "bubbling" and other disasters. The only potential problem with the briefs would be showing the world the blinding contrast of my summer shorts tan.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

The Fortress — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:08:29 GMT

I feel very good about them, except when I am beaten by someone (like Geek) wearing a coventional pair of jammers. Did Fort really say she likes "long and black"? The most innocent things are misconstrued by the seemingly innocent ... I feel good about my tech suits even when I get beaten by people in jammers and tanks. They're usually younger and value compression less. :D

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

aquageek — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:58:39 GMT

I think the only thing we should revert to in the 1970s are gas prices and the black power afro pick my mom used. Right on! Only one good thing ever came out of the 70s, The Starland Vocal Band. The ladies know what I'm talking about!

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

The Fortress — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:20:19 GMT

I'm considering wearing briefs at Nationals this summer. Part of it is because of the cost, but also I found myself fidgeting with my suits way too much at Austin to prevent "bubbling" and other disasters. The only potential problem with the briefs would be showing the world the blinding contrast of my summer shorts tan. I have never had any bubbling issues. Fidgeting is normal for sprinters. It's practically a mandatory pre-race ritual, isn't it? For what it's worth, I think you'll look much better in a brief!! Go for it! :banana: Myself, I just ordered a Nero Comp. I like long and black.

RE: New Swimsuit Regulation proposal

The Fortress — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:48:06 GMT

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.