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
No matter what, these people still have to swim their distances.... I don't know about anyone else, but I don't care about what the swimmer next to me can or cannot do, what he/she wears or does not wear; all I want is to improve myself and finish. So, for me, keep them coming. We have to continue to find ways to improve our sport, otherwise interest will wane and it will go away. So, from that front, we need to get as many people into the mix designing faster suits, making faster water, coaching faster ways to do strokes technically correct, etc., etc. If you want to say that the suits are not fair, everyone should say it's not fair that you have this coach and I don't.... This is a sport that is about team work, but it is mostly about personal bests!!! Go B70's.... And, no, I do not have one, nor can I afford one!
Reply
Former Member
No matter what, these people still have to swim their distances.... I don't know about anyone else, but I don't care about what the swimmer next to me can or cannot do, what he/she wears or does not wear; all I want is to improve myself and finish. So, for me, keep them coming. We have to continue to find ways to improve our sport, otherwise interest will wane and it will go away. So, from that front, we need to get as many people into the mix designing faster suits, making faster water, coaching faster ways to do strokes technically correct, etc., etc. If you want to say that the suits are not fair, everyone should say it's not fair that you have this coach and I don't.... This is a sport that is about team work, but it is mostly about personal bests!!! Go B70's.... And, no, I do not have one, nor can I afford one!
