I think we can all be certain that the suits are here to stay -- love them, hate them, it does not really matter -- Speedo, TYR and the others will not allow the suits to all over sudden disappear.
But, we as Masters swimmers have to make a decision about our own reasoning to compete -- why do we compete in swim meets ?
There are many reasons - social, participating in a sport beats the hell out of watching one on TV and so on --- but for me, 2 of the main reasons are the competition aspects. We obviously compete against other swimmers --- but more than maybe many other sports, we compete against ourselves. I can tell you my best 100 Free from every season over the last 30 years (10 of which I did not compete).
I have used most of the suits and did very well -- I set some personal bests and also achieved some record swims, but I have no idea how my times really compare to other seasons. I can keep telling myself that all that speedwork and lifting paid off - but I just don't know.
I like to give a golf comparison -- let's say you have a home course and you always shoot in the low 90s going from the Blue Tees --- well guess what, if you are going from the white tees you will probably average high 80s and going from the red you may get down to the mid to low 80s. But you are not a better player because of it. The LZR seems to be the "white tees" and the new Jaked suit may be the "red tees".
I think we really have to make a decision now to what matters more -- your personal records and history of swimming or the competition against other swimmers ? For me, this may change from meet to meet - but I must be able to stay honest with myself and be able to compare my times -- I do not want to be cheating myself.
Old generations suits (Fastskin Pro) only for: all major Masters meets (individual swims) except for Worlds. That means, I am ok to lose a few places in a meet, in order to know what my time really means. I could just go really old school -- but I think the older generation suits are pretty equal to shaving -- and they allow you to be "shaved" and swim fast in season, which is a huge plus.
LZR / Blue70 for: relays, Worlds and maybe some USS meets, if I am going for a time standard. I want to give any relay my fastest time possible - I swimming Worlds to win the title, so if others use the suits, I will have to do the same - if I go to USS meets, I may use them to get into the finals or to make a time standard for a big meet.
It may take some adjustments - but I think it will work --
Who is with me ?
I always smile and shake my head when I hear swimmers talk about how expensive swimming is to participate in as a sport.
Compared to many other sports, sure, swimming isn't expensive , but I'd much rather spend my money on other things. I routinely spent much more money per year to allow my son to play hockey. I spent a couple thousand bucks on my latest road bike but if previous experience is any indication I will own it between ten and twenty years. How long would a tech suit last? How much would I really use it?
Unlike many swimmers here I don't travel great distances to compete. The thought of going to California for a meet? Preposterous! I see that long course nationals are in Indianapolis. Maybe. If I swam times that wouldn't embarass me on the national stage. I don't have any national qualifying times, so I'd be limited to swimming just three events. Kind of defeats the purpose of going unless it's right in my back yard. (Which I doubt it ever will be. Unless and until Chicago gets the 2016 Olympics I doubt it will ever have a natatorium suitable for hosting nationals.)
I pay team and gym fees which get me access to the pool several times a week and I pay for entry to a few meets or postal swims per year. Plus, when the weather is nice and the water temps have risen I can swim in Lake Michigan (priceless!). Relatively speaking, most tech suits are expensive compared to the other costs I incur for the sport.
Maybe if I won the lottery or suddenly started swimming a number of national qualifying times my perspective would change.
Skip
I always smile and shake my head when I hear swimmers talk about how expensive swimming is to participate in as a sport.
Compared to many other sports, sure, swimming isn't expensive , but I'd much rather spend my money on other things. I routinely spent much more money per year to allow my son to play hockey. I spent a couple thousand bucks on my latest road bike but if previous experience is any indication I will own it between ten and twenty years. How long would a tech suit last? How much would I really use it?
Unlike many swimmers here I don't travel great distances to compete. The thought of going to California for a meet? Preposterous! I see that long course nationals are in Indianapolis. Maybe. If I swam times that wouldn't embarass me on the national stage. I don't have any national qualifying times, so I'd be limited to swimming just three events. Kind of defeats the purpose of going unless it's right in my back yard. (Which I doubt it ever will be. Unless and until Chicago gets the 2016 Olympics I doubt it will ever have a natatorium suitable for hosting nationals.)
I pay team and gym fees which get me access to the pool several times a week and I pay for entry to a few meets or postal swims per year. Plus, when the weather is nice and the water temps have risen I can swim in Lake Michigan (priceless!). Relatively speaking, most tech suits are expensive compared to the other costs I incur for the sport.
Maybe if I won the lottery or suddenly started swimming a number of national qualifying times my perspective would change.
Skip
