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?
That's right, there is nothing new about that. But in order to have broader appeal MLB, for example, sponsors urban baseball initiatives. IE: 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.
I don't think that the sport is pricing itself out of a demographic. Look at Cullen Jones and his success with the Make A Splash program. Individuals who would otherwise not be introduced to the sport of swimming are finding that they enjoy it and benefit from it (and not just to save their life, but for health). People will swim regardless of what suit they wear.
A biomechanics professor in college told me that there will always be new technology in sports that will effect the sport in some way that can enhance performance, but even with fast shoes, fast pools, or fast suits, those who have excellent technique and speed will always win.
That's right, there is nothing new about that. But in order to have broader appeal MLB, for example, sponsors urban baseball initiatives. IE: 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.
I don't think that the sport is pricing itself out of a demographic. Look at Cullen Jones and his success with the Make A Splash program. Individuals who would otherwise not be introduced to the sport of swimming are finding that they enjoy it and benefit from it (and not just to save their life, but for health). People will swim regardless of what suit they wear.
A biomechanics professor in college told me that there will always be new technology in sports that will effect the sport in some way that can enhance performance, but even with fast shoes, fast pools, or fast suits, those who have excellent technique and speed will always win.
