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 far as I know there is a single suit that current goes for more than $500 and dozens you can get for under $200 and a few under $100 now. The B70 is in the $300-$400 range I think. When you continuously bring up the price of a product it totally nullifies the fairness argument. That's a preference issue.
If the suits are not available for every swimmer that is not fair.
Did you read this. If you did was it fair she was not able to have the same suit as her competitors?
Price matters especially to parents, athletic programs, and most everyone I know. Why price people out of swimming?
There is a simple solution to this for men anyway. Go back to briefs only.
As far as I know there is a single suit that current goes for more than $500 and dozens you can get for under $200 and a few under $100 now. The B70 is in the $300-$400 range I think. When you continuously bring up the price of a product it totally nullifies the fairness argument. That's a preference issue.
If the suits are not available for every swimmer that is not fair.
Did you read this. If you did was it fair she was not able to have the same suit as her competitors?
Price matters especially to parents, athletic programs, and most everyone I know. Why price people out of swimming?
There is a simple solution to this for men anyway. Go back to briefs only.
