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?
I was asking Debbie Santos last night about when the B70s might be available. She said we would have them for our Pac Champs.
We then were talking, w/my hubby there too, about "age-groupers" wearing them. We all concluded that we didn't want our age groupers wearing them as we were more concerned that they have fun. Pat pointed out that working out they get faster year to year, anyway, b/c of physical growth. He also pointed out that the cost was an issue b/c they do grow so fast!!
Debbie said that a 12 yo kid she gave lessons to wore a B70 last year a few times and then outgrew it. She told the mom that it wasn't a good idea etc, but the mom bought it anyway.
Debbie did bring up a good point though: what about the 13, 14 or 15 yo that makes their Oly Trial cuts? They should get to wear a full length tech suit. So with that argument, the elite age groupers would get to wear them. I mentioned then, what if an age grouper would GET their cuts if they wore one?
Pfffft, another can of worms to open up. :D
I was asking Debbie Santos last night about when the B70s might be available. She said we would have them for our Pac Champs.
We then were talking, w/my hubby there too, about "age-groupers" wearing them. We all concluded that we didn't want our age groupers wearing them as we were more concerned that they have fun. Pat pointed out that working out they get faster year to year, anyway, b/c of physical growth. He also pointed out that the cost was an issue b/c they do grow so fast!!
Debbie said that a 12 yo kid she gave lessons to wore a B70 last year a few times and then outgrew it. She told the mom that it wasn't a good idea etc, but the mom bought it anyway.
Debbie did bring up a good point though: what about the 13, 14 or 15 yo that makes their Oly Trial cuts? They should get to wear a full length tech suit. So with that argument, the elite age groupers would get to wear them. I mentioned then, what if an age grouper would GET their cuts if they wore one?
Pfffft, another can of worms to open up. :D
