FINA says Dubai Charter doesn't apply to Masters

I am curious about the relative sizes of the USAS and USMS markets. Everyone is assuming that the masters market is tiny in comparison...but I tell you, when I go to just run-of-the-mill meets, tech suits are MUCH more in evidence at masters meets than at age-group meets. Obviously there are far more age-groupers than masters, but I wonder if the masters market is really as small as people are assuming. Old, fat people with disposable incomes, desperate to recapture glory days...sounds like a winner! :) I've been trying to think of an entrepreneurial venture to start ... maybe there is a nice, niche market here. Now, if only I knew the first thing about suit design and production, I'd be set. I wonder if a "Bondage Speed Suit" would send the wrong message ...:) I do think, though, like other posters have mentioned that the major suit makers will fall in line with FINA certainly by 2010 and phase out any tech suits that aren't FINA approved. I'm fine with that if that gives us all the rest of the year to wear out our current suits. I still think B70's getting shafted and that this nonsense about "textile" only suits is a red herring to protect Speedo.

I am curious about the relative sizes of the USAS and USMS markets. Everyone is assuming that the masters market is tiny in comparison...but I tell you, when I go to just run-of-the-mill meets, tech suits are MUCH more in evidence at masters meets than at age-group meets. Obviously there are far more age-groupers than masters, but I wonder if the masters market is really as small as people are assuming. Old, fat people with disposable incomes, desperate to recapture glory days...sounds like a winner! :) I've been trying to think of an entrepreneurial venture to start ... maybe there is a nice, niche market here. Now, if only I knew the first thing about suit design and production, I'd be set. I wonder if a "Bondage Speed Suit" would send the wrong message ...:) I do think, though, like other posters have mentioned that the major suit makers will fall in line with FINA certainly by 2010 and phase out any tech suits that aren't FINA approved. I'm fine with that if that gives us all the rest of the year to wear out our current suits. I still think B70's getting shafted and that this nonsense about "textile" only suits is a red herring to protect Speedo.