....And it made us seem almost ridiculously fragile -- dislocating a shoulder putting on a suit?! ....
Speak for yourself.
After a hip fracture, arthritis in my kneck and recent shoulder surgery I think "fragile" is probably a good description of my athleticism in recent years.
John Smith
Apparently all our arguing about the suits for masters is getting some attention.... :-)
This forum really is quite popular and I wouldn't be surprised at all if swim suit companies use this site for marketing research. Kind of a stretch but I noticed Aquablades have gone up in price recently. There have been a few good reviews of them in this forum including one by me. Did I contribute to the price increase?!?!
Can't play golf without a driver? Not sure about that since I don't use mine a lot but...
While I don't necessarily agree with and want rubberized suits ( I can't afford one!) You can't say that the suit and only the suit completely changes the sport. Based on that theory you could just throw the suit in the pool and it would set a world record without a swimmer in it.
I can say that and I did. :) People obviously disagree on this point. :bitching:
I thought we took ourselves as seriously as USS/FINA/HS Swimming. I think some of us do (like me). Others obviously don't. I don't know how to reconcile everybody's views. I feel bad for USMS leadership. I'm guessing no matter how they come down, about half of the membership (that compete) are going to be unhappy with their decision.
I really do think the compromise is full body textile suits. Maybe this is something we can all get behind?
You can't say that the suit and only the suit completely changes the sport. Based on that theory you could just throw the suit in the pool and it would set a world record without a swimmer in it.
Come on, this is ridiculous. The same swimmer expending the same amount of effort will swim faster in a Jaked versus briefs. Thus the high tech suits do change the sport, just as high tech clubs change the sport of golf.
The USGA has very specific rules on club design. Shouldn't FINA do the same thing for swimsuits? That's exactly what they've done. They've stated how much of the body can be covered by a suit and what material the suits can be made of.
How is the weather in the Bay Area? I moved from there 2 years ago.
The weather in the Bay Area is perfect (as I'm sure you remember)! I can't imagine moving away. Hopefully you can make it back out here some day.
At one point track & field, manufacturers came out with spiked shoes. People with spiked shoes went faster. Athletes could choose to wear them or not.
At one in point downhill skiing, manufacturers came out with full body aerodynamic body suits. Skiers wearing the suits went faster. Athletes could choose to wear them or not.
At one point in competitive swimming, manufacturers came out with swim caps. Long haired people with caps went faster, and pool filters were happier. Athletes could choose to wear them or not.
My 2¢
Fine, but you are arguing a lost cause. The suits have been banned already by FINA, USA-S, NCAA and high school. Why shouldn't masters follow? Because of creaky knees, skin cancer, and beer guts? Or because "it's just masters" so it doesn't matter?
In other words, we can't handle "naked" swimming like the rest of the world. How is that not demeaning to us?
Come on, this is ridiculous. The same swimmer expending the same amount of effort will swim faster in a Jaked versus briefs. Thus the high tech suits do change the sport, just as high tech clubs change the sport of golf.
The USGA has very specific rules on club design. Shouldn't FINA do the same thing for swimsuits? That's exactly what they've done. They've stated how much of the body can be covered by a suit and what material the suits can be made of.
Sure, you can say that's EXACTLY what FINA has done. 12 years too late. To put in prespective, it would be like the USGA announcing today that clubheads could be no larger than they were back in 1997. How well would THAT go over?
Fine, but you are arguing a lost cause. The suits have been banned already by FINA, USA-S, NCAA and high school. Why shouldn't masters follow? Because of creaky knees, skin cancer, and beer guts? Or because "it's just masters" so it doesn't matter?
In other words, we can't handle "naked" swimming like the rest of the world. How is that not demeaning to us?
Exactly. However, don't use the word "handle" because most forumites can "handle" anything that we encounter in life and will take exception. We prefer to say that we just like to go fast and not go backwards from a suit/technology perspective.
Tim
