This all seems very strange to me. Blue Seventy has developed a superior product, all this from a relatively small company in New Zealand. Their suits are FINA-approved (mine had the FINA logo on it) within the rules set by it. I see this akin to what triathlon and other sports went through years ago. Look at the equipment those athletes have to purchase and the advances in materials over the years.
From the outside this is curious to observe, a small upstart starts taking it to the established players in the market. This upsets many and some walk-off in a huff, others hurry to get FINA to protect them. Not naming names but we can fill in the blanks. This is healthy and a product of innovation, which is something human beings are good at.
I can see where one could argue, from an economic standpoint, that limiting/banning/restricting performance suits in High School, Age Group, and College swimming is a wise move. That seems a reasonable approach given the fragile state of (primarily men's) collegiate swimming these days. But on an international level with top-notch athletes backed by their national swimming federations it seems unduly restrictive.
Plus, on a masters level, if you can afford to swim several months out of the year and travel to Nationals, you can put down $317 for a Blue Seventy Nero Comp. That's not even a set of tires for most cars...
Anyway, technological innovation with gear is a fact of life. We can enjoy the benefits of it, when appropriate as stated above, or not. So long as competition is open and access to equipment is not unduly restricted, I say let innovation continue.
In the end, you have to move your arms and kick you legs. The suit can't swim the race for you...
This all seems very strange to me. Blue Seventy has developed a superior product, all this from a relatively small company in New Zealand. Their suits are FINA-approved (mine had the FINA logo on it) within the rules set by it. I see this akin to what triathlon and other sports went through years ago. Look at the equipment those athletes have to purchase and the advances in materials over the years.
From the outside this is curious to observe, a small upstart starts taking it to the established players in the market. This upsets many and some walk-off in a huff, others hurry to get FINA to protect them. Not naming names but we can fill in the blanks. This is healthy and a product of innovation, which is something human beings are good at.
I can see where one could argue, from an economic standpoint, that limiting/banning/restricting performance suits in High School, Age Group, and College swimming is a wise move. That seems a reasonable approach given the fragile state of (primarily men's) collegiate swimming these days. But on an international level with top-notch athletes backed by their national swimming federations it seems unduly restrictive.
Plus, on a masters level, if you can afford to swim several months out of the year and travel to Nationals, you can put down $317 for a Blue Seventy Nero Comp. That's not even a set of tires for most cars...
Anyway, technological innovation with gear is a fact of life. We can enjoy the benefits of it, when appropriate as stated above, or not. So long as competition is open and access to equipment is not unduly restricted, I say let innovation continue.
In the end, you have to move your arms and kick you legs. The suit can't swim the race for you...
