I am just back from the SPMA meet where all the top finisher were wearing the latest generation tech suits,mostly B-70s(or were named Jeff Commings.)I have here to for been in favor of the suits,but now I am not so sure.First,they eliminate the old bench marks.I went my fastest 100m BR in 5 yr in my LZR,but it was only .3 sec faster than I did untapered 5 wk earlier in my first swim in the LZR.So was my swim good or not,I'm not sure.Also,instead of focusing on technique or pace I found myself ruminating over aspects of the suits,how many more swims did the suit have,is it the right size,was the reason I didn't get better results from my B-70 because it was too big?etc.The B-70 has somewhat mitigated the "too expensive,not durable" problem,but for how long.
Lets say a company comes up with a suit that is much faster,say 4 sec/100.Further that it is very expensive(say $1000) lasts 4 swims and is very hard to make so that quantities are always limited and the fastest way to get one is to bid up to $3000 on ebay. Now lets say your nemesis has one,or that getting one is your best chance to get TT or AA or a ZR or WR,or that your child is close to making JO cuts,or finally beating his/her nemesis etc. Is it worth it and where does it stop?
Should tech suits be banned?
Refer to the USMS rule book which mirrors the USS & FINA rules
in Section 102.15 DISQUALIFICATIONS
on the bottom of page 14 there's rule
102.15.9 Swimmers are not permitted to wear or use any device or substance to help their speed, pace or buoyancy during a race. Goggles may be worn and rubdown oil applied if not considered excessive by the referee.
You can be pretty sure there will be some additional language added to that section or a new section about the latest generation of tech suits.
What will be considered a "device" and what won't be.
Once the rules are written. There will be specific violations for meet officials to look for.
It's likely to begin with obvious violations and abuses.
The NCAA is on this too, there's rumblings of what will and won't be allowed.
The cat's out of the bag
The genie's out of the bottle
Good luck getting them back in.
Should tech suits be banned?
Refer to the USMS rule book which mirrors the USS & FINA rules
in Section 102.15 DISQUALIFICATIONS
on the bottom of page 14 there's rule
102.15.9 Swimmers are not permitted to wear or use any device or substance to help their speed, pace or buoyancy during a race. Goggles may be worn and rubdown oil applied if not considered excessive by the referee.
You can be pretty sure there will be some additional language added to that section or a new section about the latest generation of tech suits.
What will be considered a "device" and what won't be.
Once the rules are written. There will be specific violations for meet officials to look for.
It's likely to begin with obvious violations and abuses.
The NCAA is on this too, there's rumblings of what will and won't be allowed.
The cat's out of the bag
The genie's out of the bottle
Good luck getting them back in.
