I believe that the improvements in suit design will begin to level off. Look, there were no real innovations in racing suits for decades. What we're seeing now is an application of technology which has been long overdue.
This might be the single most intelligent thing that's been said on the tech suit issue.
Any measurable advantage from tech suits is just from the "girdling" (body compression) effect...
I believe this is incorrect. There are issues with flotation and water resistance that are also making themselves apparent.
Any measurable advantage from tech suits is just from the "girdling" (body compression) effect. As for the "technology" I guess Playtex (long time maker of girdles and bras) could be considered a technology company too. :D
However, I don't see it (or Speedo, Nike, Adidas, etc.) listed on the NASDAQ Technology stock listing along with Intel, AMD, Apple, Microsoft, Boeing, etc.
I haven't seen such a public display of ignorance or humiliation since Geek 9:27.
So the idea is to ban any suit faster than an LZR?
I believe that the improvements in suit design will begin to level off. Look, there were no real innovations in racing suits for decades. What we're seeing now is an application of technology which has been long overdue.
Since the suit makers seem to be intent on "pushing th envelope" on the purported capabilties of tech suits, just as a pre-emptive move, coaches should be looking to impose a ban on outboard engines as well. :bouncing:
So the idea is to ban any suit faster than an LZR?
I believe that the improvements in suit design will begin to level off. Look, there were no real innovations in racing suits for decades. What we're seeing now is an application of technology which has been long overdue.
Any measurable advantage from tech suits is just from the "girdling" (body compression) effect. As for the "technology" I guess Playtex (long time maker of girdles and bras) could be considered a technology company too. :D
However, I don't see it (or Speedo, Nike, Adidas, etc.) listed on the NASDAQ Technology stock listing along with Intel, AMD, Apple, Microsoft, Boeing, etc.
Hi,
Meanwhile over at SwimNews.com, Craig Lord is just in a tizzy over tech-suits. He turns out an article per week minimum proclaiming that they threaten the future of swimming itself as a sport..........ugh.
His latest is to essentially label the "old guard" of companies like Speedo, TYR and Nike as the good guys. He then loves to paint any company from triathlon (Blue Seventy, Rocket science Sports) as just this side of evil.
For his latest rant click here swimnews.com/.../6576
At least he's passionate, just a bit too over the top IMO.
Tom
Meanwhile over at SwimNews.com, Craig Lord is just in a tizzy over tech-suits. He turns out an article per week minimum proclaiming that they threaten the future of swimming itself as a sport..........ugh.
His latest is to essentially label the "old guard" of companies like Speedo, TYR and Nike as the good guys. He then loves to paint any company from triathlon (Blue Seventy, Rocket science Sports) as just this side of evil.
For his latest rant click here swimnews.com/.../6576
At least he's passionate, just a bit too over the top IMO.
He makes a few good points but definitely oversells it. I basically lost interest halfway through and skimmed the rest. "Less is more" is definitely a lesson he needs to learn.
I don't really like all of these suits and would be happy if they go away. But I disagree vehemantly with Lord about this distinction between "old guard" companies who deal with the swimming community in "good faith," and the triathlete-focused companies.
The goal of any of these body suits -- from legskins to the LZR and B70 to full-blown wetsuits -- is to increase speed. If B70s are becoming more popular than LZRs it is because they are a better product: comparable gains in speed at a lower price and with a longer lifetime. Speedo and its apologists just need to stop whining and do a better job.
To paint swimmers as somehow ethically superior to triathletes is just plain wrong. If you want to buy speed, that's fine, just be (wo)man enough to admit it.
I have hung out with enough triathletes to get a pretty good sense of their (sometimes obsessive) focus on gear, and I see the exact same attitude now among swimmers who are comparing the different equipment (suits) they can buy to go faster.
When you start talking about swimmers wearing TWO of these suits to go faster -- close to $1000 of short-lived equipment -- well, that EASILY matches anything I've ever heard from a triathlete. At least their equipment tends to last; my carbon-fiber bike is still doing just fine after 5 years.
Lord lambasts B70s for making many swimmers feel more buoyant...almost every swimmer I have spoken to who has worn a Speedo techsuit, from the FSI through the LZR, also reports feeling more buoyant. But Speedo are the good guys, so that's okay?
Nice rant, Chris!
I love tech suits, but I am not thrilled with the 2 suit phenomenon. The rules say "swimsuit," and I wish it would be interpreted that way.
Saw B70s on sale for the first time at a USA meet. LZRs too of course, but I've seen those before. It'll be interesting to see what swimmers are wearing at finals tonight.
If it's currently legal why would a coach care what suit there swimmer wore especially if they just broke a couple of world records. Which does indeed suggests there is something else going on here. A good journalist would start calling coaches who support a ban on this specific product and a ask these questions; 1. Do you currently have contract with swim wear company? and if yes 2. Who is that company?
