While I fully support adhering to the same standard as "real" swimmers (of which I would like to consider myself), I suppose a full-body textile suit (with zippers) is a fair compromise for masters swimmers. I won't buy one, but I don't really feel that those suits give a significant advantage over shaving. I'm young(ish) and don't mind shaving but maybe someday I will. There are definitely older guys on my team that loathe the idea of shaving.
The big problem I see is that full-body textile suits will likely cost a fortune, as there will be a small market for them and I fear the wetsuit manufacturers (B70, Jaked, etc.) will exit the market. Also, last time I checked those suits do not last very long. In that regard it is unfortunate to lose the B70s since mine lasted for almost two years and many races and was well worth the money.
I'm probably going to plunk down the $80 for one of the new LZR Trainer briefs and use that as my big meet racing suit going forward. Even that is pretty outrageous when you think about it...
Great article, pithy and informative. I still don't know how the manufacturers can keep going just based on a masters population, only a portion of whom compete, and only a portion of whom compete wear body suits.
As long as they're not innovating new suits (and why would they), I'm sure that Speedo could keep manufacturing existing fastskins for the masters community. Unless they were getting massive economies of scale from producing them in high quantities, I wouldn't expect them to be all that much more expensive than they are now...
I don't really find the "body coverage/girdle" reason for USMS allowing tech suits very compelling because surely everyone practices in traditional suits and isn't bothered by that. It seems like a lame excuse to allow them and I am surprised that anyone in the USMS hierarchy would bring that "body coverage" as a good reason to keep the tech suits. I am fine with masters swimmers continuing to wear the suits, but just come out and say we like going fast and unlike the rest of the swimming world we can't handle going backwards.
Tim
Why must they go? The records have already been broken. Now we are talking about placing asterisks beside them. The currently available suits are not going to produce faster and faster times indefinitely. Since FINA did not step up and ban the full body suits in 2000, what they should do now is simply place restrictions on the technology.
I don't have the problem with the records staying as is. There are some records that were actually broken without a JakedArenaLZRB70 suit. Of course, who knows what was broken with what suit. You can't put an asterisk if you didn't put what suit you were going to be wearing in the entry form or told it to the timer before hand.
We can handle it just fine--it's called aging--but some of us just don't think the FINA decision makes much sense.
Maybe "handle" isn't the right word, but I would imagine most masters swimmers would prefer to not add the time and that is the primary reason for USMS might not following suit. I just can't imagine that wearing tech suits for the slimming girdle effect or even avoiding skin cancer is the reason why USMS should keep tech suits. We can all handle aging because we have no choice and we can handle it equally as well with or without tech suits. Let's just be honest about why we want to keep them.
Tim
... but just come out and say we like going fast and unlike the rest of the swimming world we can't handle going backwards.
Tim
I'm not aware of any sport that chooses going backwards as its preferred go-forward plan.
I was pleased to see the mainstream media focus on the masters response to the suits. And a fairly balanced article too; many articles about the suit don't seem to be very complimentary to the sport but this one seemed okay.
But unlike Tom, I was surprised to see the bit about added knee stability. I've had 4 knee surgeries and this was news to me, I didn't feel any better (ie more stable) with or without the legskins. I'd love to hear different experiences from others.
Now, if they can make a suit that turns me into a great breaststroker...that's technology that I would like to see!
Update FYI: Coach Jim Miller -- who is also my doctor -- stated that none of these suits provide any joint stabilization. So I guess I won't be wearing a LZR for downhill skiing...
I'm not aware of any sport that chooses going backwards as its preferred go-forward plan.
...other than FINA/USS/NCAA regulated swimming. I agree with you with regard to USMS, but our leadership should just say that rather then making it sound like we want to keep the suits because we are an organization of geriatrics that needs our loose skin and flab tucked in and extra skin cancer protection, etc. If those things were true, we would wear full body suits to practice.
Tim
Of course, the Jakeds and Arenas, LZRs, B70 really need to go. Swimming Records aren't to supposed to move like the stock exchange.
Why must they go? The records have already been broken. Now we are talking about placing asterisks beside them. The currently available suits are not going to produce faster and faster times indefinitely. Since FINA did not step up and ban the full body suits in 2000, what they should do now is simply place restrictions on the technology.
