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
They embrace it because they compete against others who are using the technology.
Using new suits or not using is an individual choice. If you don't like racing in them or competing against others that do use them, simple solution... find something else to do. If you want to compete in masters and don't want to spend the money on a tech suit, then don't spend it. Swim only for your pleasure(and don't compare your times with theirs) but don't gripe because others are using tech suits
They embrace it because they are supplied free suits.
Do you really want to lump all of them into this group? I would be willing to bet a good number of them don't get them for free.
They embrace it because times drop and if you are racing you want the lowest time possible.
Again, what is the problem with wanting the best possible time? If you ask people 5-10-15 or more years from now, most probably won't remember what suit they were wearing. They will remember their fastest times.
They embrace it because they compete against others who are using the technology.
Using new suits or not using is an individual choice. If you don't like racing in them or competing against others that do use them, simple solution... find something else to do. If you want to compete in masters and don't want to spend the money on a tech suit, then don't spend it. Swim only for your pleasure(and don't compare your times with theirs) but don't gripe because others are using tech suits
They embrace it because they are supplied free suits.
Do you really want to lump all of them into this group? I would be willing to bet a good number of them don't get them for free.
They embrace it because times drop and if you are racing you want the lowest time possible.
Again, what is the problem with wanting the best possible time? If you ask people 5-10-15 or more years from now, most probably won't remember what suit they were wearing. They will remember their fastest times.
