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
I do not have a problem with well designed pools because everyone who swims in them get the the same advantage. Same thing with lane lines.
I'd like to see them get rid of swim caps for men.
I don't care about shaving.Some people have little to no hair and somw people are like wookies. I don't see the problem allowing people to shave.
Goggles allow swimmers to up their mileage and train harder.
The only thing tech suits do is set up an unfair playing field. They cost more than some colleges can afford. They cost more than many people including me can afford. They cost more than many age group parents can afford. They have been unavailble for some swimmers in the past and continue to be unavailable for some now. They malfunction and have caused delays in races. Any moderately decent swimmer can drop time by simply purchasing one.
The reason I like briefs is because they are relatively inexpensive. They are easily available. With so little of the body covered and so little fabric used I believe that it would not matter what material they are made of hence less cheating.
I do not have a problem with well designed pools because everyone who swims in them get the the same advantage. Same thing with lane lines.
I'd like to see them get rid of swim caps for men.
I don't care about shaving.Some people have little to no hair and somw people are like wookies. I don't see the problem allowing people to shave.
Goggles allow swimmers to up their mileage and train harder.
The only thing tech suits do is set up an unfair playing field. They cost more than some colleges can afford. They cost more than many people including me can afford. They cost more than many age group parents can afford. They have been unavailble for some swimmers in the past and continue to be unavailable for some now. They malfunction and have caused delays in races. Any moderately decent swimmer can drop time by simply purchasing one.
The reason I like briefs is because they are relatively inexpensive. They are easily available. With so little of the body covered and so little fabric used I believe that it would not matter what material they are made of hence less cheating.
