That Guy joked about it, but it is a fair point. If a suit is not on the Fina list but used in a record-swimming performance will the record not be granted? We immediately jump to thoughts of tech suits like the X Glide, but how about some training suit? You can't set a WR in a nylon suit?! That doesn't make sense.
Is there a rule that covers this case? If not, then the anti-tech suit crowd should be up in arms. Why? Because this list means that you MUST wear a "tech suit" (if you want a record). Of course I consider all of the suits other than a brief, for men, to be a tech suit.
I believe the current list only includes those suits that came on the market after 2007- all suits approved prior to this time are still legal but not included in the list FINA published- this list is not inclusive of all legal suits, just those introduced after 2007. Someone please correct me if I am wrong.
So I am no where near top 10, or WR, or even beating the 80yo guy in the lane next to me, so how does meet time submissions work? Is every time submitted from a meet eligible for top 10 and WR, or is there some paperwork?
I just asked our PV Top Ten Recorder that question about Top Ten submissions. He said your times would be entered automatically by the Top Ten Recorder for the LMSC where the meet was held, so no additional paperwork. Letsrace should be able to answer your question regarding WR- I didn't even ask about that :blush:
That's true, but I don't think the pre-2007 suits needed to be tested. I would guess Speedo just submitted all their suits so they can advertise that ALL their currently available racing suits passed FINAs scrutiny.
Doesn't seem like USMS is confused though ... They're just interpreting "approved list" to mean not explicitly banned, subject to clarification, subject to future modification and approval, tentatively unapproved but not per se illegal, etc. The problem with this is swimmers want a real answer: can I swim in X suit and beginning or ending on what date?
I agree. It now seems clearer what you would have to wear (or to have worn at any time after March 14, 2009) to have a swim count as a WR, or for FINA's annual TT. But it remains unclear what USMS will count for a US national record or for USMS TT.
I am also a bit miffed that none of my bargain-basement tech suits are on the list (except for my FSIs, which are pretty much worn out). Here I was thinking I was so thrifty by investing in a small wardrobe of discontinued older-generation suits rather than in one B70 Nero Comp. But now if I want a shot at a FINA TT (which really, really tickled me for 2008), I gotta go buy a new suit anyway.
The bit about 136 suits being sent back for "modification" seems like a red herring, though. If the manufacturer has to modify the suit for it to pass, then one I bought before the manufacturer modified the design is not going to do, unless the modification is something like "walk all over it with golf spikes."
The bit about 136 suits being sent back for "modification" seems like a red herring, though. If the manufacturer has to modify the suit for it to pass, then one I bought before the manufacturer modified the design is not going to do, unless the modification is something like "walk all over it with golf spikes."
Right. Which is why the USMS ruling is BS. It is not on the approved list; it is not approved, with the exception of "standard suits". I hope all the people who blamed Speedo for FINA's decisions are in line to blame B70's sponsorship for this one.
This is too funny. I think I counted three of you in this thread that trumpeted the Speedo Endurance. But it isn't on the list, you tech-dopers! :lmao:
Hey maybe I missed something here... but Speedo Endurance is a line of polyester workout suits.
Why would it be on the tech-suit list?
Was "trapping air or water" one of the testing criteria? How was it tested and in what terms was it measured? Was this particular criteria assigned to all of the suits, each of the models, on a variety of body shapes? There must have been more to the testing than was published.
My opinion is that lawyers will be getting involved and things may get dragged out for awhile.
Regardless of personal opinions regarding the suits in general, I must say that USMS is out there on a limb with one of its sponsors. It will be interesting as to how this all gets sorted out. I'm hoping that there will be some sort of rebate or something from B-70, but a reality check tells me that they may not be able to survive a tsunami such as this. Live and learn....
Hey maybe I missed something here... but Speedo Endurance is a line of polyester workout suits.
Why would it be on the tech-suit list?
It wouldn't be on the list, it's a training suit, although I have raced in one.
I've also read this opinion:
"None of the b70 suits have been put on the approved list, but neither have they been banned. It is a process, and they are still good to use until such time as their status is clarified."
I don't see the panic either, Dave. I think people want to make sure they're swimming in legal suits. Or, perhaps they'd prefer to swim in non-Speedo suits, which narrows the available suits down substantially.
The next question for USMS and USAS will be: how will this be policed? I can understand that at the elite meets like World Championships, it will be easier to police. But, at USMS and USAS meets, are we going to have to train our officials in which suits are legal and which are not? Obviously, given the current list, it will be easy for officials to identify suit-makers that have NO suits approved (e.g., B70), but it will be much harder for suit companies that have some, but not all suits approved.
This is a good point...maybe they'll have to be a certificate stamped on the suit but then that could be forged etc.
To some extent Speedo is the bad guy, but it should be remembered that they do more to promote the sport than, well, anyone. Of course they are in it for money, why would that even be discussed, but they do recognize that they have a role in the promotion of the sport and have taken that role seriously.
Speedo has been the big swim giant as long as any of us can remember... And they were the only company to support and contribute to competitive swimming for decades.
I'm not sayin here that we have to be 100% loyal to their mode of business operations now.
They have certainly made plenty of money off all of us (and our parents) for years.
But do remember where we were 30-40-50 years ago.
There are events, magazines, and athletes who were able to continue in the sport of swimming only thanks to the support of this company.
I'm 100% happy that other companies have been tough enough to go up against and withstand the competiton to create some great options for us.
The sport (fitness & competitive) is huge - and there is room for more than one swim wear company.
