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 have heard here two arguments against tech suits. One is based on the issue of "buying time" and I have yet to hear a reason why this is any different than using better pools, lane lines, blocks, goggles, etc.
Not to mention paying more to train with an elite program, perhaps even leaving or relocating the familiy to do so. This happens all the time in swimming and you are in effect "buying time." Why should these things be allowed but not tech suits? I've never heard an answer.
The other argument is about the impact of the added expense of tech suits on the sport. I have some sympathy with this view and am concerned about it also. But even though going to briefs for men may sound like the simplest solution, that doesn't mean that it is the best one. It may not even be the simplest solution either (eg, where does that leave women?).
Lane lines, pools, blocks etc... are the same for everyone, atleast pool to pool. To me it would be much more akin to someone bringing their own starting block to the meet and only getting to use it themselves. I assume you would have a problem with that? Paying more to train with an elite squad indirectly makes you faster. You cannot, I don't know, pay for dues for an elite club on the way to a swimmeet and suddenly drop 1-2% (or whatever amount you choose to believe). Better googles, better cap? Yeah, I suppose that is the same thing as a better suit, but the expenses are smaller and the improvements less dramatic.
I won't pretend that these are leak proof arguments. But there they are...
I have heard here two arguments against tech suits. One is based on the issue of "buying time" and I have yet to hear a reason why this is any different than using better pools, lane lines, blocks, goggles, etc.
Not to mention paying more to train with an elite program, perhaps even leaving or relocating the familiy to do so. This happens all the time in swimming and you are in effect "buying time." Why should these things be allowed but not tech suits? I've never heard an answer.
The other argument is about the impact of the added expense of tech suits on the sport. I have some sympathy with this view and am concerned about it also. But even though going to briefs for men may sound like the simplest solution, that doesn't mean that it is the best one. It may not even be the simplest solution either (eg, where does that leave women?).
Lane lines, pools, blocks etc... are the same for everyone, atleast pool to pool. To me it would be much more akin to someone bringing their own starting block to the meet and only getting to use it themselves. I assume you would have a problem with that? Paying more to train with an elite squad indirectly makes you faster. You cannot, I don't know, pay for dues for an elite club on the way to a swimmeet and suddenly drop 1-2% (or whatever amount you choose to believe). Better googles, better cap? Yeah, I suppose that is the same thing as a better suit, but the expenses are smaller and the improvements less dramatic.
I won't pretend that these are leak proof arguments. But there they are...
