Greg Earhart at collegeswimming.com just posted a column that raises a troubling point about the new suits: collegeswimming.com/.../
What do you think?
15 to 20 years ago, if you needed a swim suit (-IE- a pair of briefs), all you did was run down to Macys and pick up one for $12 and that was it. College and high school athletic departments could buy them wholesale for $9 each.
Actually, couldn't be further from the truth. Tech suits came along before 15 years ago. You have previously stated you have never been a competitive swimmer so your assertions here are not fact nor experienced based. Swimmers have always had meet suits as far back as I can remember.
Swimmers have always had meet suits as far back as I can remember.
That's true, but until recently these meet suits were not that expensive, and by expensive I mean actually making a serious impact on a program's budget.
That's true, but until recently these meet suits were not that expensive, and by expensive I mean actually making a serious impact on a program's budget.
True as well.
True as well.
Swimming is starting to become more like doing triathlons - you have to shell out a bunch of money just to keep up. I think I'll go buy a racing wheel because I can get more mileage out of it than a racing suit. :mooning:
I hope reality hits people that it's the athetes doing well in the suits. I just don't believe these new suits really give people that much of an advantage(exeception...Blue seventy since it has neoprene in the material)
The LZR also uses neoprene. The TYR Tracer Rise is coated with polyurethane according to TYR's website.
The LZR also uses neoprene. The TYR Tracer Rise is coated with polyurethane according to TYR's website.
Yeah, I don't think the B70 is faster than the LZR or TYR. I haven't quizzed a lot of people yet, but there still seems to be a LZR preference.
It's not the end of the world if college swimmers have to compete in Pros or whatever until prices come down. As Wookiee notes, they're good athletes and will do well either way.
So, yeah, what Geek said: bunk.
Greg Earhart at collegeswimming.com just posted a column that raises a troubling point about the new suits: collegeswimming.com/.../
What do you think?
Hi Knelson
This tech suit issue just keeps coming up over and over like a bad case of heart burn.
15 to 20 years ago, if you needed a swim suit (-IE- a pair of briefs), all you did was run down to Macys and pick up one for $12 and that was it. College and high school athletic departments could buy them wholesale for $9 each.
Back then, the suit was just a minor issue and no one paid any attention to the brand of suit the swimmers wore. However today, the suit has become the "whole show and the monkey too" promulgated by the suit manufacturers who are taking advantage of swimming events for "brand recognition", "product placement", and other forms of "infomercializing".
I (and many others) have strongly suggested that FINA "Tivo" back to when swimming was an athletic art of sheer simplicity instead of what it is today with the hi-tech suits and who can -and cannot afford them. That would end this controversy in a jiffy.
My :2cents:
Dolphin 2
I hope reality hits people that it's the athetes doing well in the suits. I just don't believe these new suits really give people that much of an advantage(exeception...Blue seventy since it has neoprene in the material)
I think they give people a bigger mental advantage which is worth more than any suit.
