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 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."
I hear what you're saying. I think swimmers (as human beings) have a natural tendency to think any time they swam was something they achieved on their own.
I was thinking about this a couple weeks ago and posed this scenario to my wife. Imagine as a psychological experiment a group of people who ran lifetime bests in a marathon were contacted a few days after the race and told that there was a timing malfunction and their times were actually ten minutes slower than originally reported. If asked later, what percentage would claim the original, erroneous times as their best marathon time?
Do you think Austin Staab kicks 15 yds underwater for all 4 lengths but on the last one after his breakout he swims the last 10 yds without taking a breath and goes 44.18 in the 100 fly...without one of these suits?
Little has been discussed about this feat but it may be one of the more incredible things ever seen in our sport.
Not only no, but hell no. The compression, metabolic cost whatever you want to call it is just as real as the decrease in drag (which I suppose decrease metabolic cost).
Does swimming in a well worn FS1 count as not swimming in a tech suit? Cause that's what I'm swimming in at Nats.
What if your replacement B70 gets to you on time though? :angel::bolt:
I suppose the one point all of us can agree on that FINA seems to have seriously mishandled the whole question. Do we have unanimity on that point at least?
I agree with that and many others seem to agree as well -- but my original point is that we as Masters swimmers also have to take responsibilty. I tried the LZR last summer -- and I was very quick to get my hands on a Blue 70. I was all too happy to swim some very fast times. I posted some record swims - even in events that I have no business of swimming records in.
I can't just go and say - all blame goes to FINA. We know many of the suits are plain wrong --- why does USMS not draw a hard line and take all the suits out of competition until we have a clear understanding ? If you still want to use them - go to USS meet.
Well - what about all my money I spent on that suit - that will go to waste - USMS can't do that ? That feeling is the reason we are also at fault - we pretty much know it's wrong, but we spent a few hundred dollars and think that makes it right ?
I say - we are just as much at fault as FINA (at least those of us that are swimming in the new suits).
I agree with that and many others seem to agree as well -- but my original point is that we as Masters swimmers also have to take responsibilty. I tried the LZR last summer -- and I was very quick to get my hands on a Blue 70. I was all too happy to swim some very fast times. I posted some record swims - even in events that I have no business of swimming records in.
I can't just go and say - all blame goes to FINA. We know many of the suits are plain wrong --- why does USMS not draw a hard line and take all the suits out of competition until we have a clear understanding ? If you still want to use them - go to USS meet.
Well - what about all my money I spent on that suit - that will go to waste - USMS can't do that ? That feeling is the reason we are also at fault - we pretty much know it's wrong, but we spent a few hundred dollars and think that makes it right ?
I say - we are just as much at fault as FINA (at least those of us that are swimming in the new suits).
Doesn't USMS automatically adopt all of FINA's rules?
I've never raced in anything but a brief. However, I did buy a couple of Ying Fa suits for Nationals. Do those count as evil technical suits?
I certainly hope so. I'll wear a jammer for the 1000, then change to a neck-to-ankle one for the 1650 where I'll really need the help.
I don't understand why it is such a big deal if the technology is there and it is legal. Why not buy the best that is out there? It is simply a matter of priorities. If somebody wants to spend a bunch of money for the best suit and it is a high priority, it is that person's right and it is his/her business.
When I did triathlons, I held off on buying racing wheels for a long time. People kept saying, "Why don't you buy them? You will have a much faster bike split." At the time, I was just getting into triathons and wasn't sure I wanted to sink money into the wheels. I also didn't feel that at the level I was at, that it was worth the difference. Once I really got into the tris, however, I wanted to be the best I could be, especially since I was taking so much time to train for one! I got a coach and bought some racing wheels. Yes, the wheels made a difference on my speed. Not huge, but enough to change my placing in triathlons. I won one race overall by 1 second. I'm sure I could not have done it without the racing wheels. Should I feel bad about this?
The same situation is presented with the tech suits. If you want to be the best that you can be, and if getting PRs, records, or wins is a priority, is it such a big deal to get the best equipment available?
I don't see why a swimmer should feel guilty/uncomfortable about achieving a best time in a B70 or an LZR any more than a biker should feel guilty/uncomfortable about winning a race with the lightest bike on the market and the best-made racing wheels available.
For the record, I do not own a B70 and an LZR. I got a top ten time last year in 50 fly without one. I've got a B70 on the way simply because I figure, "why not?"
