I'm having a hard time with the Blue 70.
I love it. I swam faster than I deserved to in it (I bought it until it ripped, then returned), and I had fun swimming faster again!
My question/statement is this:
It is more than obvious from my own experience, and MANY swimmers I've talked to, that you drop at least 3 seconds per 50 in any event wearing this suit. I know that last year I swam a morning race and went 38 without the suit, put one on and swam the same event and went 35. I sure as heck didn't taper in an hour! And I can't remember dropping 3 seconds in a 50 in recent decades.
Highly respected "people" in USMS that I have had conversations with say it is undoubtedly "legalized cheating". I agree. I'm not quite sure how or why FINA approved it. (And I'm not saying it should be banned. It is what it is.) But when a SUIT improves performance it is no longer necessarily the swimmer achieving those times.
My hubby brought up the cost as well. (I have a suit fund going, so we don't have to shell out $400 all at once, if I even buy one.) It definitely separates the haves from the have nots. There are many more Masters Swimmers who cannot afford this suit than those who can. Several of my teammates would love one but can't afford it. And while this may be more a "social" question, it is still a factor in our swimming races.
My thought, as I was looking at recent results was this: Because the B70 is such a factor in racing performance, I would love to see some kind of a notation (notice I didn't say the dreaded Barry Bonds asterisk!) next to results of swimmers who wear a B70 in a race. Or have a B70 division for all results? We already have a wetsuit division for OW, why not have a B70 division for pool races? (It is almost a wetsuit anyway!)
This past weekend I watched an already elite swimmer wear a B70 and annhilate their already super fast times. If I were a swimmer from another part of the country, I'd be thinking, "Good God, how much faster can they get?" When if fact they aren't necessarily much faster, they are now wearing a B70.
When is technology too much?
2cents
Karen
I've never compared the B70 to a practice suit. But I don't think that's a good comparison anyway. At big meets, most swimmers are wearing tech suits, not practice tanks. And a non-B70 tech suit would result in a big improvement over a practice suit too. So it makes more sense to compare the B70 to the LZR or Pro or FS. As long as the suits are legal and approved by FINA, I don't think you can have a B70 division. And some masters are wearing LZRs too BTW and double suiting.
I recently asked the same question about what will happen at the next round of meetings, but no one ventured an opinion.
You are absolutely correct. I was not wearing an FS anything at that meet where I dropped 3 seconds. I had been wearing an old TYR jammer type- that had no life in it all. And then put on the B70. I guess I should have been more clear with what suit I had on before I wore the B70.
I can't compare the FSs to the B70 b/c I've never worn a FS.
The highly respected person I referred to was Kerry! I try not to drag people into conversations they don't know are going on.
:chug:
ourswimmer: I am not trying to hype anything. I am in a real quandry about cheating. Do I buy a $400 suit and beat people cheating?
You're right that Laura didn't annhilate her time. I think there are a lot of factors in people's times at meets. Practicing or not? Sick or not? The fact is that she is two years older and dropped 5 seconds in her 500 from last year. (You said she went 5:32, and this year she went 5:27). While that's not annhilation it's still darn impressive. And it just so happens that she's switched from an FS to a B70 and dropped those 5 seconds.
Are they sponsoring people to wear this? I would think normal swimmers would not be able to shell this kind os $$$$ out!
"Normal" swimmers don't even compete so they're not concerned about the money.
The trick is slipping it past your spouse.
Absolutely - I called it "Christmas in July" when I got mine for LC Champs. But then I got sick so I wore my FSII instead and saved the B70 for SCM season.
CHEATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:bump:
you know I'm kidding.
How have your time drops been?
I know you are - so what am I! :argue: Ha ha.
The time drops aren't as significant as a cup of good swim meet coffee and a Red Bull IMO.
Ahhh, I think I've exceeded my sugar limit. Been munching on candy and chocolate for the last hour. It's that time of the year at all the schools so co-workers are bringing it in here. Kinda like an early Halloween.:bliss:
My wife went on a shopping spree when she found out. She told me she was trying to stimulate the economy.
I hate payback. I'm going broke not because of MY suit buying habits but because of payback! :badday:
