Ban the tech suits?

I don't know, though. Did you read the John Leonard article? In "phase I" suits will be required to have less than 100 g of buoyancy. I'm assuming the new test procedure will involve putting a 100 g weight on the suit and then it better, by God, sink or the suit is out. Leonard also talks about the manufacturer who is in it for the "fast buck" and I think we can all read between the lines and realize he's talking about Blue Seventy. He also hints that if their suits are banned they might resort to legal action. So what if FINA already knows that the LZR suit will pass this test but the Nero Comp will not? You have to wonder where exactly the 100 g number came from, after all. If this is the case you could certainly argue FINA is establishing a test procedure that will allow the LZR to pass, but the Nero to fail, and I'd say if that's true then Blue Seventy has every right to be upset. It will definitely be interesting to see how this plays out. I remember the "fast bucks" comment, but can't specifically remember the letter now. I'll have to search for it. When was the Phase I test supposed to occur? Could that be the one the B70 flunked? The guy I spoke to also said there was a problem with the LZR. The material over the chest may be illegal in the future, but he said not until 2010.

I wonder what the time requirement will be for this 100 g to sink. Does it just have to eventually sink, like over a month or in about 1 minute?

I was in the local swim shop today. The owner flat out announced that the B70 would be banned in May because it flunked the buoyancy test. It didn't sound like this would be the outcome after FINA's meeting with the suit manufacturers last month ... I don't know, though. Did you read the John Leonard article? In "phase I" suits will be required to have less than 100 g of buoyancy. I'm assuming the new test procedure will involve putting a 100 g weight on the suit and then it better, by God, sink or the suit is out. Leonard also talks about the manufacturer who is in it for the "fast buck" and I think we can all read between the lines and realize he's talking about Blue Seventy. He also hints that if their suits are banned they might resort to legal action. So what if FINA already knows that the LZR suit will pass this test but the Nero Comp will not? You have to wonder where exactly the 100 g number came from, after all. If this is the case you could certainly argue FINA is establishing a test procedure that will allow the LZR to pass, but the Nero to fail, and I'd say if that's true then Blue Seventy has every right to be upset. It will definitely be interesting to see how this plays out.

I was in the local swim shop today. The owner flat out announced that the B70 would be banned in May because it flunked the buoyancy test. It didn't sound like this would be the outcome after FINA's meeting with the suit manufacturers last month ...

I just wanted to let everyone know that Tech suits have been around for years. When they changed from wool to nylon that was a great improvement. The Japanese used silk suits and they were technically superior to suits that were around. Then came the speedo briefs, then better speedo briefs. Then the almost see through suits came.Technical changes do happen and are they all benificial. The teflon finish suits that are waterproof, I do know a lot about these suits and they are great. The Nada suit, De Nada, a fovourite word of mine in Mexico. Much like the Emperor's new clothes my Nada Swim Suit is barely there. Sounds a little like "The Emperor's New Clothes" to me, George :)

I just got back in the water after 8 years and suits to the knee were unheard of back then much less down the legs. My buddies gave me a fs2 for a meet in two weeks. I'll take the gray area and say is it not us it might be the Indian not the arrow? If you train hard and put yourself in a position the suit could mentally help or hurt. Again I'm a rookie back in so I'll see in two weeks:)

Just heading back from Mexico. I just purchased three Nada Swim Suits there and I can not wait to try them in a race. One size fits all. It has the new freeze at the block technology they are designed to make all other competitors in your race freeze at the starting block and watch in awe. They are still waiting for the FINA approval.

Sounds a little like "The Emperor's New Clothes" to me, George :)

Interesting article by John Leonard about the FINA meeting regarding suits: http://www.swimmingcoach.org/ Here's one thing I have an issue with: Also no doubt, some newer players in the market that I categorize as “in it for the fast buck”, will be done in by the new rules and will not be happy. 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.

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!