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
As my lawyer wife would say, "asked and answered." :)
Ban the tech suits? - Page 16 - U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums
I think the additional workload on OW events would be much smaller than for pool events. Especially since a separate wetsuit division already exists -- at the discretion of the race director (whom I think should always be empowered to decide such things) -- except for national championship races.
how could i have missed that? only 26 pages to skim through.
it might also give people the opportunity to swim some events twice at the same meet.. wouldn't that be fun.
could the "it would increase participation" argument also ring true?(and doesn't everyone really want to know just what the tech suits are really doing for them? what better opportunity)
one more thought: prelims - traditional suit, finals - anything goes.
As my lawyer wife would say, "asked and answered." :)
Ban the tech suits? - Page 16 - U.S. Masters Swimming Discussion Forums
I think the additional workload on OW events would be much smaller than for pool events. Especially since a separate wetsuit division already exists -- at the discretion of the race director (whom I think should always be empowered to decide such things) -- except for national championship races.
how could i have missed that? only 26 pages to skim through.
it might also give people the opportunity to swim some events twice at the same meet.. wouldn't that be fun.
could the "it would increase participation" argument also ring true?(and doesn't everyone really want to know just what the tech suits are really doing for them? what better opportunity)
one more thought: prelims - traditional suit, finals - anything goes.
