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?
when a sport prices it self out of a demographic you either lose the demographic (I guess that is what you support?!?!) or you do something about the pricing.
As I said earlier, something is already being done, it just doesn't seem to be to your liking.
I've been to a lot of age group meets for younger kids. I haven't seen a tech suit yet, so the problem you refer to doesn't seem to exist here (or at least it isn't caused by tech suits, which I believe aren't even made in kids sizes anyway). The Virginia LSC bans them for swimmers 12 and under.
If you are saying that tech suits are changing -- or going to change -- the demographics of swimming, it might be helpful if you can provide some support for that argument. Perhaps in the form of some actual data, rather than mere conjecture.
when a sport prices it self out of a demographic you either lose the demographic (I guess that is what you support?!?!) or you do something about the pricing.
As I said earlier, something is already being done, it just doesn't seem to be to your liking.
I've been to a lot of age group meets for younger kids. I haven't seen a tech suit yet, so the problem you refer to doesn't seem to exist here (or at least it isn't caused by tech suits, which I believe aren't even made in kids sizes anyway). The Virginia LSC bans them for swimmers 12 and under.
If you are saying that tech suits are changing -- or going to change -- the demographics of swimming, it might be helpful if you can provide some support for that argument. Perhaps in the form of some actual data, rather than mere conjecture.
