Why does MLB prohibit the use of aluminum bats or spitting on baseballs or letting players use steroids (okay - two out of three)? Why does NASCAR prohibit fuel injected engines or certain transmission gear ratios? Why does the PGA disqualify certain golf balls or regulate golf clubs? Why can't basketball players where stilts or use a trampoline? Enough is enough, when a piece of equipment can alter the record books and cheapen the physical accomplishments of every past athlete, it's time to say stop (don't you think?).
The integrity of our sport is on the line here. How about two dolphin kicks for breaststroke or how about adding another arm-stroke to the backstroke turn or allowing IM'ers to turn-over before they touch on the back to *** transition.
I'm against the LZR and any suit that enhances performance and don't think I'll be changing my mind unless they find out swimming naked can make you swim faster.
Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.
Coach T.
Former Member
It appears that PointZero3 is knee length, 3+ is full length, and that both are aimed primarily at triathletes; Nero is both short and full length, with multiple style variations, and aimed at triathlestes, open water and pool swimmers.
www.blueseventy.com/.../index.phpwww.blueseventy.com/.../
FWIW, I can give some of the guys here a sizing indication:
I am 6'2" and about 190 lbs, and it was a real struggle to get a size 30 Nero Comp on (but I did it), I have not worn a LZR so I cannot compare the two in terms of struggling to put it on...
I've heard from Roque that even the breastrokers (like me) are going with the full-length Nero Comp as opposed to the knee-length.
I will be test-piloting the suit in two weeks' time at a meet, and will report back if anyone's interested.
in his article Glenn said he didn't train much between Masters Nats and this meet, he modified his glide and wore the blue seventy pointzero
which helped him drop from 2:19 to 2:13 in the 200 scm IM and
from 2:30 to 2:22 in the 200 SCM ***
though some speculate the true reason Glenn swam faster was he was super psyched to impress spectators
By the way, I spoke with Glenn Mills after he wore the ZeroPoint3+ at the IGLA meet so I went with the same suit....here's his article on the suit:
www.goswim.tv/.../my-blueseventy.html
more on SUIT WARS
Not a suitable week for swim team
Scott Ostler
Thursday, June 26, 2008
(06-25) 20:59 PDT -- You sports historians out there might want to mark down next week on your calendars. That's the week that the last honest Olympic sport will bite the dust, in a pool.
It will happen at the U.S. Olympic swim trials in Omaha, Neb., starting Sunday.
Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin and about 40 others will swim their way onto the greatest swim team of all time, a U.S. squad that will be favored to dominate the Olympics for the fifth straight time.
The trials should be a wonderful meet, but under the surface will be big-time turmoil. The Swimsuit Wars are about to get crazy.
And it couldn't happen at a worse time, right when the swimmers are most in need of inner calm and focus.
Instead, there will be a mad scramble for magic swimsuits. Swimmers who aren't locked into a contract with a suit company will be running around like crazed brides-to-be trying to find a gown the night before the wedding.
Swimmers who are locked into contracts might be scrambling to unlock.
The timing is really, really crummy.
"There's a lot of talk (about suits), a lot of pressure and anxiety, kids trying to get their hands on suits," one top collegiate coach told me. "Turmoil might be the right word. Or frenzy."
A few lucky swimmers seem to be settled, at least until the next rumor/buzz, which you're about to read. Phelps and Coughlin are well-paid Speedo endorsees, so barring a last-minute development, they'll wear the hot-hot-hot Speedo LZR Racer.
Most swimmers, though, have had only a taste of the new suits, and they are forced to decide on the fly which of the three - the Speedo, or suits by Tyr and Nike - are fastest. Once the decision is made, the swimmer must lay his or her hands on a suit, and then must hope he or she has time to practice in the suit in order to adjust stroke and technique, because the new suits alter the shape of the body and change balance and buoyancy.
But wait, there's more! A California company named blueseventy has unleashed a suit that might be speedier than the Speedo. The radar of every coach and swimmer is buzzing. If you want to attract a crowd in Omaha, just reach inside your overcoat and say, "Pssst! blueseventy?"
What would Phelps and Coughlin do should it become apparent that the blueseventy suit is faster than the LZR?
Ideally, all this scrambling to find the right suit and learn how to swim in it would have taken place a year or two ago, so as not to disrupt the trials and the Olympics.
In fact, U.S. head coach Mark Schubert, in a phone news conference Wednesday, asserted that the "smart" coaches and athletes already have tested suits and made decisions.
"We gave all the top coaches the heads-up in December that this was going to be coming," Schubert said, "and most of our best coaches and athletes are well prepared for it."
The Speedo suits weren't available until mid-February, and on a limited basis. At some meets, where the suits were loaned to swimmers, demand exceeded supply. And the blueseventy is new to almost everyone. So even some smart swimmers and coaches are caught in a last-minute scramble, at a bad time.
"Speedo and the other companies aren't interested in what would be the right thing," one coach told me. "They're interested in making money. I think (the timing) is irresponsible, quite honestly."
When might have been a good time? Never would have been good.
As one prominent swimming insider told me, of the new suit technology, "I feel it's cheating. It's disrespectful of the history of the sport."
And unnecessary. Why do we need this high-tech stuff? Why does swimming have to become golf? Why couldn't swimming stay pure and basic? Well, because of money.
Speedo and Nike help finance big-time swimming (money to coaches, athletes, swim organizations), so nobody will stand up and say, "Sorry, Speedo/Nike/Tyr, we won't allow high-tech to invade our sport."
The Suit Wars will continue, with the swimmers, and fans, held hostage.
Nike and Tyr swimmers panicked when the new Speedo suit hit town, breaking records like crazy (of the 37 world records broken since the LZR was unveiled in February, 35 were in the Speedo). Erik Vendt, a potential medalist in the 1500 freestyle, jumped his Tyr contract to wear a Speedo, and Tyr sued Vendt - and Speedo and USA Swimming and Schubert.
Nike, perhaps realizing its swimsuit isn't as fast as the Speedo, recently gave seven of its endorsees, including backstroker Aaron Peirsol and breaststroker Brendan Hansen, permission to wear a Speedo at the Trials. But at the Olympics, will Nike force its guys to climb back into (relatively) sluggish Nikes?
By the way, if you wonder why mankind can't cure cancer or solve the energy problem or climate crisis, it's because all the world's scientists have been diverted into R&D of the swimsuit.
And cap.
Nike just came out with a new high-tech swim cap. Seriously.
A coach who will be coaching at the trials told me, "I'll just say to my swimmers, 'Here, put on a new suit, and a new cap, and good luck. Don't let it bother you.' "
www.sfgate.com/.../article.cgi
Blueseventy nero: Female sizing?
Anyone know how the nero size runs? Not interested in the Pointzero 3/3+; only the nero (not 10K).
The size chart says I can wear about 3 different sizes, depending on chest, waist, height (assuming this is not the measure-around-your-crotch-and-over-your-shoulder Speedo measurement), and weight. Blueseventy emailed me back and said I was a 26. But according to all other measurements I could be a 22 or 24. Anyone have any experience with sizes yet? FYI, I wear a 26L Speedo FS PRo with zipper back.
In the meantime, I am searching for a local store that might have one in store to try on.
Great post by Ande. I can't wait for the cap. Wasn't there a cap with built-in goggles? Or am I mistaking that with the kiddie aisle/season swim section? I wonder if that will make a comeback.
