Craig Lord's rather inflammatory article www.swimnews.com/.../6918 on the possibility that USMS will depart from FINA vis a vis allowed swim suits raises a fundamental issue:
If masters swimming allows a more lenient policy regarding suit technology than FINA swimming, will this help or hurt our status in the swimming world?
I love the high tech suits, and I think FINA has been boneheaded in many ways, but I personally think that the creation of a two-tier system--regular swimming and masters "handicapped" swimming--would be bad for our sport and only marginalize us in the world of athletics.
If the choice comes down to two options--abide by FINA's suit rulings OR permit suits like the B70 for masters (if it is outlawed by FINA for "real" swimmers), which side would you support?
I love it that there is a vehicle for fun, fitness, health and even competition for those who no longer wish to race in the elite pool and for those who never got to race in the elite pool at the highest of levels for a whole spectrum of reasons.
I think there is a vocal minority of masters who enter the masters fray with an edge beyond the fun, fitness, health etc reasons, and seem to claim some kind of ownership of masters.
In pursuit of their fast-suit agenda they are prepared to leap on every word I write
I swim regularly to maintain a heart beat that wakes at 36 ...
I love his attitude and approach to masters. He does it because it brings him great pleasure and keeps him healthy and fit and keeps him in touch with a great group of people.
Beyond that, I love masters for the kind of things I have seen from Shane Gould: lessons that could help avoid repetitive strain injuries, lessons that could help kids learn about water in an enlightening way that helps them to become better swimmers and have more fun.
Wow, Mr. Lord is unable to write anything about masters without it being laced with judgment and condescension. His bottom line is that masters should really only be about fun, health, people and life lessons. (Well, duh, it is that, but not just that.) It is apparently inappropriate to also focus on competition, racing, tech suits, and trash talk once you're over the hill and non-elite. Masters is the dumping ground for the past-your-prime, life-as-a-real-competitor-ends-at-25 non-elite. Does he even realize that there are "elite" masters too?
Everyone who does not fall wholly within his prescribed vision of masters has a so-called minority "edge" that he disfavors and denigrates. And we are apparently not entitled to pursue our "fast suit agenda." Why not? Personally, I get a tad annoyed with people who do not compete pushing their own agenda/opinion about tech suits on those who do compete.
Mr. Lord can babble on about life lessons and whatnot. Me, I'd like to race too. Nothing beats hanging out with friends at meets either. And, frankly, I think I'm just as good a role model for my kids and others if I choose to race rather than just worry about my heart rate. To each his own.
I hope that makes it all clear for you. :P
I love it that there is a vehicle for fun, fitness, health and even competition for those who no longer wish to race in the elite pool and for those who never got to race in the elite pool at the highest of levels for a whole spectrum of reasons.
I think there is a vocal minority of masters who enter the masters fray with an edge beyond the fun, fitness, health etc reasons, and seem to claim some kind of ownership of masters.
In pursuit of their fast-suit agenda they are prepared to leap on every word I write
I swim regularly to maintain a heart beat that wakes at 36 ...
I love his attitude and approach to masters. He does it because it brings him great pleasure and keeps him healthy and fit and keeps him in touch with a great group of people.
Beyond that, I love masters for the kind of things I have seen from Shane Gould: lessons that could help avoid repetitive strain injuries, lessons that could help kids learn about water in an enlightening way that helps them to become better swimmers and have more fun.
Wow, Mr. Lord is unable to write anything about masters without it being laced with judgment and condescension. His bottom line is that masters should really only be about fun, health, people and life lessons. (Well, duh, it is that, but not just that.) It is apparently inappropriate to also focus on competition, racing, tech suits, and trash talk once you're over the hill and non-elite. Masters is the dumping ground for the past-your-prime, life-as-a-real-competitor-ends-at-25 non-elite. Does he even realize that there are "elite" masters too?
Everyone who does not fall wholly within his prescribed vision of masters has a so-called minority "edge" that he disfavors and denigrates. And we are apparently not entitled to pursue our "fast suit agenda." Why not? Personally, I get a tad annoyed with people who do not compete pushing their own agenda/opinion about tech suits on those who do compete.
Mr. Lord can babble on about life lessons and whatnot. Me, I'd like to race too. Nothing beats hanging out with friends at meets either. And, frankly, I think I'm just as good a role model for my kids and others if I choose to race rather than just worry about my heart rate. To each his own.
I hope that makes it all clear for you. :P
