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?
.....I think the suits are good for the sport in general. ......
Tim
I know you've posted about not using one etc.... but why would you make the above comment?
I see no good from the suits and the people who wear them don't have a reason why they are good for swimming either. When everyone drops a similar percentage of their time at the same time for the same reason that is not training related what's the good coming from it? You aren't swimming any better than you would without the suit although your times might be faster. One of the nice things about swimming is (was) being able to have a level playing field without expensive equipment playing a factor.
Hopefully FINA will go along with the suggestions of USA swimming, AU swimming and their European counterparts and the current generation of suits will be banned and the hopefully USMS will follow.
.....I think the suits are good for the sport in general. ......
Tim
I know you've posted about not using one etc.... but why would you make the above comment?
I see no good from the suits and the people who wear them don't have a reason why they are good for swimming either. When everyone drops a similar percentage of their time at the same time for the same reason that is not training related what's the good coming from it? You aren't swimming any better than you would without the suit although your times might be faster. One of the nice things about swimming is (was) being able to have a level playing field without expensive equipment playing a factor.
Hopefully FINA will go along with the suggestions of USA swimming, AU swimming and their European counterparts and the current generation of suits will be banned and the hopefully USMS will follow.
