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?
I can't help but wonder if there isn't an inkling of xenophobia in the latest round of suit outrage. Would so many people be up in arms if, say, it was Garrett Weber-Gale who dropped a 46.9 100 meter free?
www.smh.com.au/.../1237054905754.html
Does anyone buy that she didn't know the rule?
Just the other day, I was saying it's bit odd that men have used modesty suits but not women ...
I take it FINA's ruling applies to USMS? Or is unclear as Pakman suggests?
I still think Speedo will buy B70.
Speedo is jealous that B70 is making a suit that people are starting to like more than theirs. They have been the big dog for years, now, someone is starting to make them feel threatened
102.14.1 Design -- The swimsuits worn for competition shall be non-transparent and conform to the current concept of the appropriate. The referee shall have authority to bar offenders from competition until they comply with this rule.
I can't believe how short-sighted FINA and USA Swimming are being with all their swim suit rule-mongering.
First nit-picking suit thickness, permeability, and presence of tiny adjunctive propellers, all of which have been deemed by The Powers-That-Be somehow unsportsman-like.
Now this!
Our only hope smashed of seeing Laura Manedou (or however you spell her name) and her lithe ilk swimming free, their svelte musculature vibrating in the azure racing tank!
How else are we supposed to learn what to do with our own core muscles if we can't watch the fastest women in the world using theirs, from upper chest thoracic stabilizers to groin sinews to ever so gingerly flapping buttocks?
FINA, you have gone too far this time in outlawing transparent swim suits!
This must not stand! This cannot stand! This shall not stand!
PS does this mean that all the old guys on our team now wearing transparent, sagging, form-fitting Lycra Speedos from which the last molecules of dye have long since given up the ghost are now in official violation? If so, perhaps I can live with the ruling after all.
Please send some FINA police to our pool immediately for enforcement.
I take it FINA's ruling applies to USMS?
I would assume it does NOT unless USMS specifically adds wording or issues an interpretation similar to what USA-S has done. The USMS rules, as written, do not address multiple swimsuits. Maybe we need to hear from Kathy Casey on this?
USA Swimming issued an interpretation today (just arrived in my inbox) to interpret its rule like FINA's:
There have recently been a number of questions regarding the use of two swimsuits during competition. Although the USA Swimming Rules & Regulations do not specifically address this, FINA has interpreted its General Rule GR 5.3 to allow the use of only one swimsuit during competition.
Our Rules & Regulations require that USA Swimming’s technical swimming rules conform to those of FINA. In order for our interpretation to conform to that used by FINA, the following interpretation is being made, effective immediately.
For purposes of Article 102.9 of the USA Swimming Rules & Regulations, Swimwear, the use of more than one swimsuit at a time during any USA Swimming sanctioned or approved competition is prohibited.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Here is USA Swimming Article 102.9 (2009 Rulebook, effective May 15):
102.9.1 Design
A Swimsuits worn for all 12 & under age group defined competition shall not cover the neck, extend past the shoulder, nor past the knee.
B Swimsuits worn for competition must be non-transparent and conform to the current concept of the appropriate.
C The Referee shall have authority to bar offenders from the competition until they comply with the rule.
102.9.2 Insignia (omitted)
102.9.3 Advertising (omitted)
So the question is, will this interpretation attach to USMS 102.14?
Swimwear
102.14.1 Design -- The swimsuits worn for competition shall be non-transparent and conform to the current concept of the appropriate. The referee shall have authority to bar offenders from competition until they comply with this rule.
102.14.2 Advertising (omitted)
Patrick King
Geek,
Do you concede to my line of thinking on this yet? Market opportunity for B70 instead of global domination by Speedo. Obviously it is an evolving matter, but it doesn't sound like doomsday to me.
Tim
Yes, a good economic conspiracy is always intriguing to me.
I still think Speedo will buy B70.
Blue Seventy's CEO Steve Nicholls
comments on FINA Dubai charter.
Fina’s rules, issued in a two stage process, will limit suits on thickness, buoyancy and other areas as of March 31st this year. This will be the standard until Jan 1st 2010, when the restrictions of phase two will come into effect.
“Phase one should not affect the legality of our current suits at all. All our in-house testing has shown that our current suits meet all of the phase one restrictions, including those relating to buoyancy. There has been a lot of incorrect information, and personal viewpoints ushered into the public arena, and we feel that some of these tests will help reduce the confusion that seems to be out there.”
“Phase two, will limit suits based on permeability, and dependant upon what that permeability ruling is, theoretically we may need to adjust our designs to make sure we retain a viable swimskin product beyond 2010. Since the FINA think tank in February, we’ve changed our design focus around those possible rulings and have some exciting concepts already in the pipeline.”
That’s for the future. For now blueseventy suits are fast becoming the suit of choice for swimmers globally, none more so than in the US college season, where blueseventy nero suits took more State championships than any other brand. The current suits should remain in circulation until Jan 1st 2010 when, pending the new permeability rulings they may be phased out.
Commenting on the rulings, Global sales and marketing manager Dean Jackson said “We’re committed to being a long term partner of FINA, and swimming, thats why we’ve invested back into the sport already, with sponsorship of US masters, and the FINA open water 10km Marathon series. This means that we are listening to coaches, athletes and others in order to ensure we are designing products that meet with the direction of the sport that FINA is charged with protecting. “
Geek,
Do you concede to my line of thinking on this yet? Market opportunity for B70 instead of global domination by Speedo. Obviously it is an evolving matter, but it doesn't sound like doomsday to me.
Tim
Blue Seventy's CEO Steve Nicholls
comments on FINA Dubai charter.
blueseventy’s CEO Steve Nicholls is confident that blueseventy will be able to adapt to any rulings that have come from the FINA Dubai charter.
“We’ve been involved, along with FINA and the other major manufacturers for the last few months in making sure that our products are meeting any restrictions, both in the immediate and long term future” said Nicholls.
Fina’s rules, issued in a two stage process, will limit suits on thickness, buoyancy and other areas as of March 31st this year. This will be the standard until Jan 1st 2010, when the restrictions of phase two will come into effect.
“Phase one should not affect the legality of our current suits at all. All our in-house testing has shown that our current suits meet all of the phase one restrictions, including those relating to buoyancy. There has been a lot of incorrect information, and personal viewpoints ushered into the public arena, and we feel that some of these tests will help reduce the confusion that seems to be out there.”
“Phase two, will limit suits based on permeability, and dependant upon what that permeability ruling is, theoretically we may need to adjust our designs to make sure we retain a viable swimskin product beyond 2010. Since the FINA think tank in February, we’ve changed our design focus around those possible rulings and have some exciting concepts already in the pipeline.”
That’s for the future. For now blueseventy suits are fast becoming the suit of choice for swimmers globally, none more so than in the US college season, where blueseventy nero suits took more State championships than any other brand. The current suits should remain in circulation until Jan 1st 2010 when, pending the new permeability rulings they may be phased out.
Commenting on the rulings, Global sales and marketing manager Dean Jackson said “We’re committed to being a long term partner of FINA, and swimming, thats why we’ve invested back into the sport already, with sponsorship of US masters, and the FINA open water 10km Marathon series. This means that we are listening to coaches, athletes and others in order to ensure we are designing products that meet with the direction of the sport that FINA is charged with protecting. “
