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
Do the suits aid in speed, sure, anything that allows one to cut through water, does...but one still has to do the actual swim.
Now, if some of the suit are shown to float, like a wetsuit, then definitly get rid of them((B70). But any suit that doesn't aid in floation, should be allowed to stay, regardless of the amount of coverage.
Why get rid of suits that float? One still has to do the actual swim.:rolleyes:
IMO a suit that aids in cutting through the water is the same as a suit that floats.
Get rid of tech suits, put men in briefs and then it is the swimmer and training that are measured.
Do the suits aid in speed, sure, anything that allows one to cut through water, does...but one still has to do the actual swim.
Now, if some of the suit are shown to float, like a wetsuit, then definitly get rid of them((B70). But any suit that doesn't aid in floation, should be allowed to stay, regardless of the amount of coverage.
Why get rid of suits that float? One still has to do the actual swim.:rolleyes:
IMO a suit that aids in cutting through the water is the same as a suit that floats.
Get rid of tech suits, put men in briefs and then it is the swimmer and training that are measured.