Masters swimming has decided on the Fastest Suit

Hey Chris, I need to do more hard SDK in practice, I've done alot of SDK speed work but not as much speed endurance. I was real impressed with AZ SDKs at the Texas Invite. Lara Jackson and Ana Agy both had excellent SDK. this upcoming season I'm going to work on SDK conditioning for speed, speed endurance, breath control, and mental toughness for 75's, 100's 150's & 200's I think it helps to go deeper on SDK, the water pressure might make the swimmer more compact and the float in the suit might pull the swimmer up as they surface SDK begins with a hard pushoff and proper pushoff angle I used to think come straight off the wall, be shallow but after watching phelps at trials and the Olympics he pushes off like this: images.businessweek.com/.../0414_phelps.jpg congrats again, Ande OK I broke down and blogged my MEET results on USMS at: www.usms.org/.../blog.php they are also at: andesswimmingblog.blogspot.com btw aren't you 44? whens your birthday? Thanks, Ande; to be honest, I was shocked too, I didn't think I had that kind of swim in me. I really think that a greater emphasis on hard SDK in practice has made a difference in all my events (obviously backstroke the most). Makes sense, since that accounts for at least half the race and yet not nearly that proportion of time in practice. I think I'll put even more time into it in the coming SCY season. Plus it may well be that the effect of having a good SDK is further amplified by the newer suits. (I sort of suspect this is their main effect, more than buoyancy -- at least for me. I don't think the suits helped my fly as much as my back.) I wish I could reciprocate and congratulate you on your swims but, although the LB meet looks great, they seem to be the slowest out of the gate in posting results (at least compared to the Rutgers and Chicago meets).

My B70 is at 20 swims or so. It's much easier to get into than it first was. But I don't notice any real diminution in effectiveness. No ripping or pulling in any of the seams yet either, and I've heard reports of that happening. Perhaps that's because people ignore height restrictions on the suit or order it too small? I'll definitely never buy a LZR. I might try an XTerra as well though. I blew out a seam in my B70 yesterday after wearing it for a whopping 7 or so events in 2 meets. I bought it in August at LCM Nationals, and will be trying to get it fixed or replaced under warranty. I'm within the size guidelines, and chose the size recommended by the vendor. I'll post how it goes.

Kirk, I don't know about Ande's suit size but I suspect a 26 would work well for you. I am about your size (6' 2" and 190) and I wear a 26. It's tight but not constricting.

With these wetsuit-like suits approved for pool swimming is anyone else a little concerned that some swimmers will now try to use true wetsuits in pool competition? I can certainly see it happening. There is a similar problem for USMS-sanctioned OW competitions, of course. Dave Holland has proposed the "poke" test: sneak up behind the competitor and poke them. If they feel it and react, it is a swimskin (ie legal); otherwise it is a wetsuit. :)

With these wetsuit-like suits approved for pool swimming is anyone else a little concerned that some swimmers will now try to use true wetsuits in pool competition? I can certainly see it happening. Kirk - If the suits already allowed are shown to provide bouyancy, why would a wetsuit be disallowed? In short, I see your point, and I believe that eventually, barring some clear definitions and/or rules, wetsuits will show up sooner rather than later.

Kirk - If the suits already allowed are shown to provide bouyancy, why would a wetsuit be disallowed? Matt, I think (up to this point) the approved suits have only exhibited neutral or no bouyancy to whatever test methods are being used. I think when some swimmers are performing their own tests, they're probably not in line with whatever test method FINA is utilizing.

With these wetsuit-like suits approved for pool swimming is anyone else a little concerned that some swimmers will now try to use true wetsuits in pool competition? I can certainly see it happening. Would true wet suits be faster than the Nero Comp? I recall there was an alleged sighting of one at NE Champs last year before B70 even hit the scene ... Swimcat, I think they all feel like tires. lol

I think a wetsuit would still be faster. With a wetsuit there's no pretense of neutral buoyancy.

I'm 6' 3 & 3/4"s 215lbs & have wide hips I wore a size 30 Blue Seventy Nero Comp but a 32 works fine too a 28 would probably be fine for you, you could probably fit in a 26 too but that might increase the risk of ripping Ande Ande, what size is your Nero? I'm thinking about buying one in a size 28. I'm about 6'2" and 185. Do you think that would be the correct size? The sizing guidelines on their website suggest I'm too tall for a 26.

My B70 is at 20 swims or so. It's much easier to get into than it first was. But I don't notice any real diminution in effectiveness. No ripping or pulling in any of the seams yet either, and I've heard reports of that happening. Perhaps that's because people ignore height restrictions on the suit or order it too small? I'll definitely never buy a LZR. I might try an XTerra as well though. fort, i felt a lzr this past weekend at short course nats in atl, and it felt like a tire. i don;t know..... is that how the all the newer suits feel?