What should USMS do about the suits?

I guess that men would likely have to buy female suits with straps since I'm not sure how many manufacturers are going to make chest to knee suits for men since they're neither legal for USS or FINA elite. Also seems kind of silly to allow zippers since these likely won't be manufactured anymore either.

I don't understand the rationale for proposing shoulder to knee coverage, which breaks from the FINA/USA Swimming regulations, but not leg skins or full body suits. Either follow USA Swimming to the letter, or ignore the tech suit ban entirely. That was my initial reaction as well. The "compromise" seems most designed so guys don't have to shave their chests. The zipper? Hmm ... Ice heard more people interested in bodysuits than zippers ... Chris, so option 1 and 2 presuppose a ban, though you have couched it as a "swimwear rule"? Sounds like that's where people think FINA is going despite its prior statements? Option 3, tellingly the last one, is the only one that contemplates that FINA won't ban tech suits. The so-called "purists" seem to engage in indignation and denunciation of us tech suit fans and the horrific state of the sport so it doesn't surprise me that they were more vociferous at convention.

Stupid question, and probably answered somewhere in many of these suit discussion threads (but I haven't seen it answered), but why would masters swimmers not want to compete if everyone is in the same boat and has to relinquish the tech suits? Is it that people are used to doing certain times and don't want to see their times be slower? But everyone will be in the same situation. So I get confused when I see references people make about stopping competing if tech suits are banned. And especially references that older swimmers will drop out of masters. Is it the psychological reaction to seeing a slower time? Is it the hassle of shaving? If it's the psychological reaction to seeing slower times, won't that fade after a few meets and everyone sees that relative standings remain the same, as in "If you're fast, you're fast"?

The Fortress rocks! I have never been in a sport that tells tells its paying members what they can wear and how much skin must be visible at a given time then changes their mind two or three times in a given year. Bowman's tantrum really alienated me. If the USMS abandons tech suits completely in 2010, then I will simply compete in the remaining USMS SCM races for this year only and simply abandon the USMS till tech suits are allowable. I can always do triathlons non-sanctioned USMS open water races.

I don't understand the rationale for proposing shoulder to knee coverage, which breaks from the FINA/USA Swimming regulations, but not leg skins or full body suits. Either follow USA Swimming to the letter, or ignore the tech suit ban entirely.

If the suit regulations for USMS are going to differ from those of FINA/USA Swimming, why bother with a "compromise"? Allow us to continue to wear what we have been wearing (and using to set personal bests, top ten times, national and world records).

Chris, I'm a little confused by the Rules Committee's proposal (I understand the post's a summary, not the full text). "Knee to shoulder" is the maximum coverage -- they're not saying that body suits would be mandatory, right? They're not saying no briefs and jammers allowed? (I really don't care what anybody else wears, but I don't want to wear a body suit -- I'm not against them, I just don't like them for myself.)

Also this so called "compromise" HEAVILY benefits men while adding virtually no benefits for women!

The general consensus (Rules and Coaches) was that USMS will probably do whatever FINA recommends, certainly for LCM/SCM and probably also for SCY. (Personally, I think the rules should be uniform.) I hope so. It will be downright silly if the suit rules vary depending on course.

Also this so called "compromise" HEAVILY benefits men while adding virtually no benefits for women! Heather, I am not sure how you reach this conclusion. The more that guys like me are covered over with suit material, the more women like you benefit. That much seems obvious. Otherwise, you might not be able to help yourselves.