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?
Wow, this thread has become somewhat hostile. I have no problem with other people wearing tech suits. Spend as much as you want and feel good about your times and results. I think tech suits help participation in masters and sponsorship which is a good thing.
I think the key word in Ande's quote is "you". If "you" are out to break records (like Ande) and generally breaking records in todays masters swimming requires a tech suit, then Ande's quote makes sense. How about the other 99+% of masters swimmers? Ande, I hope you didn't mean that anyone that competes and doesn't wear a tech suit is an idiot. I think for the other 99+% that it is a personal decision and no one is an idiot on either side of the discussion no matter their reasons for wearing or not wearing a tech suit. I discovered that I enjoy swimming more without a tech suit, but setting records has never been on my list of goals and giving up a little time to competitors is not a big deal in my book. It is possible to still have time goals, rankings, compete, and enjoy the sport without wearing a tech suit.
The thing that I find most fascinating about tech suits is their grasp on the general psychology of swimming.
Tim
Wow, this thread has become somewhat hostile. I have no problem with other people wearing tech suits. Spend as much as you want and feel good about your times and results. I think tech suits help participation in masters and sponsorship which is a good thing.
I think the key word in Ande's quote is "you". If "you" are out to break records (like Ande) and generally breaking records in todays masters swimming requires a tech suit, then Ande's quote makes sense. How about the other 99+% of masters swimmers? Ande, I hope you didn't mean that anyone that competes and doesn't wear a tech suit is an idiot. I think for the other 99+% that it is a personal decision and no one is an idiot on either side of the discussion no matter their reasons for wearing or not wearing a tech suit. I discovered that I enjoy swimming more without a tech suit, but setting records has never been on my list of goals and giving up a little time to competitors is not a big deal in my book. It is possible to still have time goals, rankings, compete, and enjoy the sport without wearing a tech suit.
The thing that I find most fascinating about tech suits is their grasp on the general psychology of swimming.
Tim
