If the full body rubber suits do end up getting banned, why should USMS follow their lead on this issue? (i.e. assuming the suits would continue to be manufactured).
Isn't Masters mostly for each individual to pursue what they want and the level they want out of the sport?
If the full body suit is preferred by many USMS participants, why not satisfy the base by keeping it available?
What's really the point of forcing old USMS swimmers out of their girdles if FINA bans them?
John Smith
We all wear googles now when racing and "back in the day" we never used them. Is it an advantage? Yes, especially on turns; and it is generally better for the eyes. But it is definitely an advantage and I suspect we are faster because of them. Let's keep them. And if FINA banned them I would still want to keep them.
I just don't think goggles are directly comparable. The primary purpose for using goggles is so you can see better and to protect your eyes from chlorine. The purpose of goggles isn't really to make you swim faster. This may be a consequence of these other factors, but it isn't their primary purpose. Full-body, rubberized suits, on the other hand, are clearly primarily intended to make you swim faster.
Jeff, Greg, Leslie, et al,
I am not sure that the tech suits affect training discipline per se, and if they do, it's probably a variable and idiosyncratic range of effects.
I find my own training intensity waxes and wanes throughout the season, often paralleling such factors as my job workload, family obligations, travel schedule, injuries, and time in a given season.
For example, I just got back from Nationals feeling inspired to work really hard. But my shoulder is extremely sore from racing, I have a giant deadline at work, my son got rousted by the cops last night, etc. These things will have much more effect on training intensity than whether or not I can wear a tech suit next year.
What I do fear is going to happen to some of us is major disappointment when our times get much worse in jammers vs. B70s. Maybe with everyone's times getting worse, the blow will be cushioned. Maybe there will be some kind of conversion utility invented so that we can compare our post-B70 times with our pre-B70 times (and convince ourselves we haven't suddenly developed massive congestive heart failure and/or sarcopenia of aging). Maybe we will simply discover a previously unsuspected ability to HTFU resides in our obsessive swimmer's aging souls?
Who knows.
But I can see it being a little bit de-motivating, for me at least, to go from close to lifetime bests at 56 to more predictable performance of a geriatric with one blanched toe almost already in the grave.
Leslie proposed that the suits may be more valued by those over 40 than those under 40. I would have to agree with this. The illusion of eternal youth is clutched more rapaciously by those of us who see it fast slipping away!
I just don't think goggles are directly comparable. The primary purpose for using goggles is so you can see better and to protect your eyes from chlorine. The purpose of goggles isn't really to make you swim faster. This may be a consequence of these other factors, but it isn't their primary purpose. Full-body, rubberized suits, on the other hand, are clearly primarily intended to make you swim faster.
As I see it, suits increase ones aquadynamic efficiency (at least that is the intended purpose), goggles do not.
But I can see it being a little bit de-motivating, for me at least, to go from close to lifetime bests at 56 to more predictable performance of a geriatric with one blanched toe almost already in the grave.
It was demotivating for me to realize that without the tech suits I was significantly slower. This realization messed up one of my seasons as a result. I got over it eventually. Nothing like taking off the beer goggles and seeing harsh reality.
Leslie proposed that the suits may be more valued by those over 40 than those under 40. I would have to agree with this. The illusion of eternal youth is clutched more rapaciously by those of us who see it fast slipping away!
I think the suits are also pretty highly valued by swimmers of any age who swim distance or large line ups in masters meets. The suits provide speed but also recovery during and after races.
Though most people are adding the fact that wearing a full bodysuit is too much of an advantage, the major argument is the material put on the suit.
FINA, from my understanding, scaled back to jammers for men to make sure the manufacturers don't try anything sneaky with the full suits, in addition to the fact that it was hard to quantify if a full bodysuit trapped air and/or water.
When FINA announced it was going to jammers and after people said that the records should be stricken back to Feb. 2008, people started pointing to Ian Thorpe's swims as the reasons not to put asterisks next to records. No one complained that he won so many Olympic medals covered 95 percent with fabric because they never thought full bodysuits were the issue.
Heard a rumor that Thorpes body suit with arms was so tight he wore another tech suit under it to help slide it on. Bet there were some swimmers stacking suits years ago before FINA was even aware that it was an issue.
FINA & USA swimming needs to do something about reframing the real records, I have a feeling it's going to be a long time before we see a male in a jammer break 21 in the 50 LCM free, there's comparisons in every event. I'm curious to see what times will be in 2010 (especially mine)
But for me, masters swimming is less about the times and more (much more) about racing. The times are just a way to "keep score". So, having stunk up the Indy pool in my B70, I will commit to racing in textile jammers from now on.
100% agree....may be the first time ever between me and Le breastroker/teddy bear boy!
The quote "it's only masters" has been used over and over again with everyone seeming to have their own opinion as to how it relates to themselves...I'll add to that by saying Jim's statement above plays on my thoughts about "it's only masters" in that IMHO those who measure themselves based on records and times are going to have a much harder time than those that simply love to race...regardless of what they are wearing, how old they or even male vs. female (I got my ass kicked by my wife in a 2k recently for example).
The real records? WTF? All the records have been done according to FINA rules, so they are the real records.
To rip off Jim Rude's oft-repeated comment, WORD.
FINA & USA swimming needs to do something about reframing the real records, (especially mine)
The real records? WTF? All the records have been done according to FINA rules, so they are the real records.
Ian Thorpe began wearing a full body suit in the 2003 world championships. His suit also covered his arms.
I don't know why no one ever talks about this, especially when mentioning his "unbeatable" records, one of which Biedermann broke.
here's a picture: www.tribuneindia.com/.../wi6.jpg
and an article: http://www.gizmag.com/go/2071/
