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?
There is none if all use the same suit.
There may be no competitive advantage over other swimmers if people are wearing comparable suits. But some people like high-tech gear and also like swimming faster (regardless of the fact that everyone else is also faster), and so having the suits makes them like the sport more.
My 9-yo son thinks the suits are cool and asked to get one (I laughed and refused, of course. Plus our LSC doesn't allow swimmers 12 and under to wear them). My point is that kids perceive them as "cooler" than briefs or jammers and this may benefit the sport.
Back the competitive advantage thing...it worries me a little if the advantage is NOT uniform (eg, if it is dependent on body type).
There is none if all use the same suit.
There may be no competitive advantage over other swimmers if people are wearing comparable suits. But some people like high-tech gear and also like swimming faster (regardless of the fact that everyone else is also faster), and so having the suits makes them like the sport more.
My 9-yo son thinks the suits are cool and asked to get one (I laughed and refused, of course. Plus our LSC doesn't allow swimmers 12 and under to wear them). My point is that kids perceive them as "cooler" than briefs or jammers and this may benefit the sport.
Back the competitive advantage thing...it worries me a little if the advantage is NOT uniform (eg, if it is dependent on body type).
