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
Here is a letter from the AD of my college:
Aaron,
Thank you for your email. I share your excitement over this past weekends results. The results are extremely impressive.
Yes, the moratorium that the NCAA passed regarding the suits has caused more of a migraine than a headache. Let me be clear, there is no “line in the sand”. The problem is that there is not enough sand. I would love to be able to provide these suits for the swimmers and would not think twice about doing so if I had the resources to purchase them. The moratorium, especially coming at a time when budgets were already set, has caused a hardship for us as well as many other swimming programs and athletic departments
I cannot wait to race in one of these suits...but if they are banned I will totally understand it. $400 is alot of money, espeically when the suits do not last even one season.
It's just money. Why can't the students go and buy their own suits?
Even if they couldn't get their parents to pay for a couple suits per year it's the training that gets you through not a suit.
Here is a letter from the AD of my college:
Aaron,
Thank you for your email. I share your excitement over this past weekends results. The results are extremely impressive.
Yes, the moratorium that the NCAA passed regarding the suits has caused more of a migraine than a headache. Let me be clear, there is no “line in the sand”. The problem is that there is not enough sand. I would love to be able to provide these suits for the swimmers and would not think twice about doing so if I had the resources to purchase them. The moratorium, especially coming at a time when budgets were already set, has caused a hardship for us as well as many other swimming programs and athletic departments
I cannot wait to race in one of these suits...but if they are banned I will totally understand it. $400 is alot of money, espeically when the suits do not last even one season.
It's just money. Why can't the students go and buy their own suits?
Even if they couldn't get their parents to pay for a couple suits per year it's the training that gets you through not a suit.
