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?
Interesting article by John Leonard about the FINA meeting regarding suits:
http://www.swimmingcoach.org/
Here's one thing I have an issue with:
I think it's pretty obvious he's talking about blueseventy and I don't think this is fair. Just because they're new to the sport of pool swimming doesn't mean they don't deserve to be in the market. Let's be realistic here. Every suit manufacturer is in it for the bucks--fast or otherwise.
OK,so probably all the suits are legal now and will be until 2010.It looks to me entirely possible that the Nero Comp will not be legal then as it's impermeable area will likely be too large(I bet the LZR will be just barely under the requirement.)
On a personal note,in my races in both my B-70 and LZR I have tended to go out"too fast"-REALLY fast ,and split more poorly than usual,not better.Overall time is better and this may be a function of psychology and not suit,but it is different than what the article said.
Interesting article by John Leonard about the FINA meeting regarding suits:
http://www.swimmingcoach.org/
Here's one thing I have an issue with:
I think it's pretty obvious he's talking about blueseventy and I don't think this is fair. Just because they're new to the sport of pool swimming doesn't mean they don't deserve to be in the market. Let's be realistic here. Every suit manufacturer is in it for the bucks--fast or otherwise.
OK,so probably all the suits are legal now and will be until 2010.It looks to me entirely possible that the Nero Comp will not be legal then as it's impermeable area will likely be too large(I bet the LZR will be just barely under the requirement.)
On a personal note,in my races in both my B-70 and LZR I have tended to go out"too fast"-REALLY fast ,and split more poorly than usual,not better.Overall time is better and this may be a function of psychology and not suit,but it is different than what the article said.
