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?
Parents
Former Member
Once again, you open your mouth and prove you don't know anything about competive swimming or kids.
Yea, the suits aren't easy to get on, no one has argued that point. But every kid that I have coached and swim with at practice, LOVES getting the tech suits.
They look forward to the championship meets where their coaches allow them to wear their tech suits.
Kids don't view the suits a hassle to race in, the look forward to the meets where they are able to wear them. They love the feeling of diving in with the tech suits on and RACING with them.
The tech suits makes things better because the kids love to get them and race in them.
Hey Thewookie
I just don't get the idea of how using a tech suit for racing in swimming is any kind of athletic achievement anyway. :confused:
If all you want to do is just swim for the thrill of racing, the most effective way to increase your speed is to increase your propulsion -and this can be done by simply putting on a set of paddles and flippers. They aren't as gimmicky as an expensive "tech suit", but they definitely make swimming more racey. :blah:
If you really want to be in a "racey" sport, then get into NASCAR. But if you want to race in swimming, then just be a good swimmer. :agree:
Dolphin 2
Once again, you open your mouth and prove you don't know anything about competive swimming or kids.
Yea, the suits aren't easy to get on, no one has argued that point. But every kid that I have coached and swim with at practice, LOVES getting the tech suits.
They look forward to the championship meets where their coaches allow them to wear their tech suits.
Kids don't view the suits a hassle to race in, the look forward to the meets where they are able to wear them. They love the feeling of diving in with the tech suits on and RACING with them.
The tech suits makes things better because the kids love to get them and race in them.
Hey Thewookie
I just don't get the idea of how using a tech suit for racing in swimming is any kind of athletic achievement anyway. :confused:
If all you want to do is just swim for the thrill of racing, the most effective way to increase your speed is to increase your propulsion -and this can be done by simply putting on a set of paddles and flippers. They aren't as gimmicky as an expensive "tech suit", but they definitely make swimming more racey. :blah:
If you really want to be in a "racey" sport, then get into NASCAR. But if you want to race in swimming, then just be a good swimmer. :agree:
Dolphin 2
