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 ?
Parents
Former Member
I'd like to throw out this question:
To those wearing the B70 (or the LZR or Jaked, to be fair) would you swim in a major competition without it (if you currently own one)?
Why not?
Karen, count me in as answering your question. Yes. I wore a poly for half my swims at a USS Auburn meet in 2009. What's your point with that? I was slower but still near or better than my times as a kid (untapered and ill). I was not as fast as when I wear a B70. I won Nationals in 2004 with a $30 dolphin suit in the 50 meter fly after a 12 year break while my competition surrounded me in tech suits (I also got 2nd and 3rd places in my other 3 events). And?
I'd love to see the people who are now in the USMS TT (where they hadn't been before, ever), breaking records, swimming "stupid fast" where they hadn't before, take off the B70 and LZR and swim. I am astounded at the number of people (that I swim with, or know of) with huge time drops who say "it isn't the suit". I keep hearing in many places, "I trained really hard," or "The suit can't swim for me," or "It's not cheating." If all of the above is true then why is there such controversy?
And I've heard people say the exact opposite. I do think the tech suits swim for me. However, I train in a poly (which is about 95% of my swimming experience) with the SR I/ National kids which to Ehoch's point is my benchmark for being *honest* with myself. If anyone is concerned about whether or not they are *cheating* themselves, come jump on in with the SWAT national team for a couple of months. The water's fine!
I'd like to throw out this question:
To those wearing the B70 (or the LZR or Jaked, to be fair) would you swim in a major competition without it (if you currently own one)?
Why not?
Karen, count me in as answering your question. Yes. I wore a poly for half my swims at a USS Auburn meet in 2009. What's your point with that? I was slower but still near or better than my times as a kid (untapered and ill). I was not as fast as when I wear a B70. I won Nationals in 2004 with a $30 dolphin suit in the 50 meter fly after a 12 year break while my competition surrounded me in tech suits (I also got 2nd and 3rd places in my other 3 events). And?
I'd love to see the people who are now in the USMS TT (where they hadn't been before, ever), breaking records, swimming "stupid fast" where they hadn't before, take off the B70 and LZR and swim. I am astounded at the number of people (that I swim with, or know of) with huge time drops who say "it isn't the suit". I keep hearing in many places, "I trained really hard," or "The suit can't swim for me," or "It's not cheating." If all of the above is true then why is there such controversy?
And I've heard people say the exact opposite. I do think the tech suits swim for me. However, I train in a poly (which is about 95% of my swimming experience) with the SR I/ National kids which to Ehoch's point is my benchmark for being *honest* with myself. If anyone is concerned about whether or not they are *cheating* themselves, come jump on in with the SWAT national team for a couple of months. The water's fine!
