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 Jim Clemmons joked that getting into better shape and not the suit made the difference, adding "this is my story and I'm sticking to it," I think he was clearly winking and nodding at a certain disingenuousness.
Yes, to a slight degree I was being disingenuous. The suit helps - a bit. But when the Victor came out, it helped. The FSI helped, the FSII helped more so I don't where folks are going to attempt to "draw the line" exactly but it appears steps are being taken to do so. People are spending SO MUCH TIME discussing it that the time would be better spent doing something more productive. You don't really want Leslie to take time away from her family to develop a chart to help justify a suit purchase, do you? Take my word - if you've got a few bucks left over when the process is completed, get yourself one. You'll enjoy it.
When Jim Clemmons joked that getting into better shape and not the suit made the difference, adding "this is my story and I'm sticking to it," I think he was clearly winking and nodding at a certain disingenuousness.
Yes, to a slight degree I was being disingenuous. The suit helps - a bit. But when the Victor came out, it helped. The FSI helped, the FSII helped more so I don't where folks are going to attempt to "draw the line" exactly but it appears steps are being taken to do so. People are spending SO MUCH TIME discussing it that the time would be better spent doing something more productive. You don't really want Leslie to take time away from her family to develop a chart to help justify a suit purchase, do you? Take my word - if you've got a few bucks left over when the process is completed, get yourself one. You'll enjoy it.
