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 like using paddles in practice for the exact same reason: they're a crutch.
This is so negative. It's illogical to think that fun always = crutch. Paddles are a training tool, not a crutch. (Unless you specifically use them that way.) There is no reason that something fun and fast needs to be denounced as a crutch instead of part of the sport. Do you think that fun is always bad? Seems a bit of an austere philosophy or rather puritanical for sport and life ...
I detect scads of reflexive "guilt" from swimmers whenever the words paddles, fins or tech suits are used. I recall Karen saying "if it feels wrong, it is wrong" awhile ago. I guess I don't understand why these things feel wrong. People feel "guilty" kicking with fins for example, but if they did it right, it might affirmatively help their training.
Someone who doesn't prepare well, who doesn't put in the work, will not gain an advantage over someone who does by wearing a suit.
Of course, but what if both busted their hump? Then the guy wearing the fastest suit wins. How is this progress in the sport? Now, you could say that everyone has equal access to the suits, but that hasn't always been the case. An example on this board is Erik Hochstein who was unable to get a LZR suit when he was attempting to qualify for Olympic Trials while lots of other swimmers did have access to these suits.
It's not a bad thing to go faster. And the suits are fun!
I like using paddles in practice for the exact same reason: they're a crutch.
No, I think you're wrong. My opposition to the tech suits is just the opposite. I think the deciding factor in who swims fastest should be exclusively based on the training, skill and mental toughness of the swimmer--not on what suit they wear.
There's inequities built into these factors as well (access to pools, coaching, etc.)
What is wrong with jazzing up the sport? What is wrong with introducing something new and exciting that captures people's attention and has everyone buzzing? Even people who know nothing about swimming and can't name a single swimmer besides Phelps know what the LZR is. I just don't see the problem with advancement. It's not a bad thing to go faster. And the suits are fun!
I always wear a B70 or Pro when I'm racing even when I'm not tapered or looking for best times. It's good to get racing experience in the suit. That's why some (e.g., Ande) wear them in practice. In fact, I've worn them enough so that, when I do a best time, I know it's due to training and tapering, not the suit.
How many world records have been set using the LZR? How many Gold medals?
Give me a break, that is ridiculous. How many records and medals were won wearing any suit of your choice from any era? How many medals won wearing goggles? Get off your high horse, all you are proving is an aversion to progress. You can't randomly pick and choose what advance you find acceptable, unless you choose none. And, I suspect many find the problem to be the price, not the actual product.
There never has been nor ever will be a sport that doesn't advance.
Why don't you give 46 year old Dennis Baker a call about your very insightful quote above...I guess going a 4:38+ 500 yd free unrested and in a drag suit a couple weeks back pretty much flushes your credibility...not that you have actually had any but its been entertaining.
So, are you saying he would have been slower in a tech suit? Because my point is tech suits lower times.
You are trying to make it seem like all the things that go into swimming aren't the reason for faster times...that someone can just put a suit on, then expect to swim fast without all the training needed to swim fast.
No, I think you're wrong. My opposition to the tech suits is just the opposite. I think the deciding factor in who swims fastest should be exclusively based on the training, skill and mental toughness of the swimmer--not on what suit they wear.
Never said that.
Two swimmers are physically equal in every way and each has the best race of their lives. One wears a brief and the other a LZR. Which one wins the race? Does anyone doubt the swimmer in the briefs loses?
How many world records have been set using the LZR? How many Gold medals?
I think I answered that...if your a 46 year old masters swimmer in the 500 free you can wear a LZR, fins and paddles and I will put money on a bet that says you won't beat Baker in the 500 free wearing a drag suit.
It's simply a mute point, just as many of us have pointed out here if your a top level athlete you don't show up to a major race not ready to race and not trying to make some purist statment by not using approved equipment...as Geek said I haven't seen to many steel TT bikes at the Tour de France with the riders complaining afterwards that they were cheated.
If tech suits do not produce results why do people wear them?
Well let me think about that...TV became available awhile back much to the chagrin to the radio purists. Anti-lock brakes I assume are cheating in your mind as well...garbage disposals? How about upgrading from leather helmets in footbll? Your arguments are amusing and for those who like to live their lives looking back and thinking "what if" may be interesting. Progress happens and as long as things like goggles and tech suits are tested and approved for competition I'll enjoy using them...
And these suits don't leave much to the imagination, do they:rofl::rofl::lmao::lmao:
Hey...they make some of us look better than we really are! Enough reason to get em for me. :afraid:
And these suits don't leave much to the imagination, do they:rofl::rofl::lmao::lmao:
Trip trap. Trip trap. Trip whoaaaaaaa!
(ooops, I tripped over my tech suit when I should have trapped!) :D
