OK - the "Suits" started the whole thing, so you can say that FINA and the manufacturers are responsible for the entire mess. But, there are ways to handle a situation without creating this silly mess. If you ever read Swimnews, the author Craig Lord, basically makes the suits out to be the devil and he is the Spanish inquisition. Why can't they just voice their opinion and then move on for the good of the sport.
Most main stream journallists have no idea about suits, records and all of that - they take their stories from the coaches and swimmers. The more the coaches and swimmers complain the worse the public, non-swimming perception will be - it's that simple. How about just saying - "I would prefer for the suits to changed - but Worlds are swimmer against swimmer - everybody can wear whatever suit they want and they are all available. In the end it comes down to the swimmer not the suit."
Michael Phelps was not world athlete of the year in 2008, not just because of the suits, but because of all the talk about them !
L'Equipe is now banning any record note in their newspaper and I am sure the coverage of Worlds will be terrible. Well - they are French, but it's still a big blow to the sport.
I don't read speed skaters complaining about a new track being the fastest in the world - they can only set records in certain places. I don't see the track cyclists making a huge affair out of a new faster cycling track that allows athletes to blow away all the records. I did not see the outrage when they changed the backstroke turn rule - how much is that in a 200 back ? About a second ? How much faster is allowing a dolphin kick off the wall in *** ? How much faster is allowing in regular Breaststroke to put your head underwater ??
I think there has to be a way to discuss it and not make it take over the sport -- by the way, I am actually against the suits, I would love for them to go back to regular suits. But at the same time, I also embrace new technology, I have a Blue 70 and a LZR.
Generally, I believe trapped air will be displaced by water if it has an easy way to leave the suit...generally not through the material itself, however.
The whole "permeability" thing is a red herring. Are they worried about buoyancy? Then test for that. Are they worried instead about some vague "contact with the water" thing? Go contemplate your navel and stop wasting our time.
I'm against limiting suit coverage. I dislike tanks, and don't see why we should be forced to go back to them. I likewise see no reason why we as consumers should have to wear tech suits that rip easily and blow apart.
I do, however, agree that permeability and air trapping is a red herring and waste of time. Unfortunately, it appears that the manufacturers have now moved forward with designing, manufacturing and selling suits that attempt to meet the 2010 guidelines regarding permeability (e.g., Rocket Science Sprinter suit and new B70 suit). These suits will look increasingly LZR-ish with patchworks of permeable material and neoprene material and arrays of holes at key places. If FINA was under pressure to "move inventory" of the previous versions, won't it now be under pressure to permit these versions that were developed in response to their professed guidelines for 2010?
Generally, I believe trapped air will be displaced by water if it has an easy way to leave the suit...generally not through the material itself, however.
The whole "permeability" thing is a red herring. Are they worried about buoyancy? Then test for that. Are they worried instead about some vague "contact with the water" thing? Go contemplate your navel and stop wasting our time.
I'm against limiting suit coverage. I dislike tanks, and don't see why we should be forced to go back to them. I likewise see no reason why we as consumers should have to wear tech suits that rip easily and blow apart.
I do, however, agree that permeability and air trapping is a red herring and waste of time. Unfortunately, it appears that the manufacturers have now moved forward with designing, manufacturing and selling suits that attempt to meet the 2010 guidelines regarding permeability (e.g., Rocket Science Sprinter suit and new B70 suit). These suits will look increasingly LZR-ish with patchworks of permeable material and neoprene material and arrays of holes at key places. If FINA was under pressure to "move inventory" of the previous versions, won't it now be under pressure to permit these versions that were developed in response to their professed guidelines for 2010?
