With all due respect to Ande, who tried to get me to buy a tech suit at Nationals (Ande, thanks for the compliment when you guessed my size, but I would wear a 36 in a tech suit, not a 26.), I respectfully submit my top ten reasons for hating tech suits:
1. $$$ Too expensive. I feel my money was better spent at The Athlete Village, having a video analysis done of my breaststroke. Implementing the tips I picked up from the online coach will help me to swim faster faster than a tech suit.
2. Struggle to put on. In the time it took a couple of gals in the locker room at Nationals to get their suit half-way on, I was out of my street clothes, into my Speedo Endurance suit, and had my bag unpacked and into the locker. And, I had expended a lot less energy than they did. I would rather spend my energy in the pool… :D
3. Too fragile. See Allen Stark’s post about his tech suit blowout- right before his event. I would be steaming big time if I had spent a heap of $ on a tech suit, then have it rip on me. :bitching:
Speaking of steaming…
4. The heat factor. I have heat intolerance medical issues (I love the heat mentally; my body hates it in a serious way), so being encased in a tech suit would exasperate the situation and possibly negate any gain I had made wearing the suit anyway. I was in Sunday’s last event (200 breaststroke) and was wasted by that point, after spending three days in the heat and humidity. :badday:
5. I want an apples-to-apples comparison of my times. I (barely) beat my seed times in two of my events and dropped my time about 2 seconds in another. If I had worn a tech suit and improved my times even more, would that have been a fair comparison- or would it have been the suit? I think a tech suit would have provided a false sense of success and an inaccurate indication as to my level of improvement since my previous meet. Then, post-tech suit, if my times got worse how would I feel then? I wonder how many of the swimmers will feel when they see (possibly) seconds being added back on to their times, post-tech suit? A false sense of success followed by huge disappointment is going to play on many minds, I’m sure. :confused:
6. Wearing a tech suit only exposes the arms and feet. I like to FEEL of the water with more than that. :agree:
7. Claustrophobic; too confining. I love summer, because I get to live in shorts and t-shirts. The less on me the better; it's more comfortable. :)
8. My current ranking #130 of 266 in the 50 breaststroke doesn’t put me in a position to be winning any medals or awards. Where would a tech suit put me in the rankings? #125? #120?? Even #100? Big deal! :rolleyes:
9. Personally, modesty isn’t an issue. At 48, I’m comfortable in my 5’71/2, 123lb. frame. And, I was comfortable in my not-as-fit 150lb pound frame, when I spent six months in Australia, back in 1984, where I spent some of the time relaxing on their nude beaches. Why? Because Aussies are comfortable in their skin and not hung up on their bodies like Americans are. Nude and topless beaches are common in Australia and you will see bodies of all shapes and sizes there. And, nobody cares. :)
Speaking of bodies…
10. Visualize Mark Spitz…1972 Olympics… in a Speedo… :D I was only 10 years old, but, believe me, my eyes were GLUED to the TV- and not necessarily only while he was swimming. Need I say more? Not all Masters swimmers look as good as Mark Spitz in a Speedo, but I saw PLENTY of AARP eligible swimmers out of their tech suits at Nationals that had absolutely stunning bodies- male and female! And, for those who weren’t? So what???
That concludes my :2cents: on the subject!
Former Member
There are ample opportunities for newbies to compete in USMS sanctioned events that are smaller, more relaxed, and less threatening than Nationals. The majority of our members choose not to do so, which is their prerogative. The tech suit is just an excuse. When the suits disappear, they will find other excuses.
Former Member
It got posted twice because I hit the button twice. Offended? Me? Naw. You don't know what offends me. I am sure you were offended by your response with all of the "!!!" you used to describe yourself.
So, now exclamation marks mean I am offended huh? Interesting...
You do know that psychologically the ones that start bashing and name calling and making fun of people first...are usually the ones who realize they are losing a point or getting offended themselves...just like a little kid on the kindergarten playground...
Did the mean wittle teacher not let you have recess today?
Beats the false sense of moral superiority exhibited by those who rail against the suits.
We apparently participate in the only sport where technology is a dirty word.
We apparently participate in the only sport where technology is a dirty word.
Oh, I dunno...it is my understanding that after Sept 1 you can't wear these suits in a triathlon either. Triathletes aren't exactly known for being tech-phobic.
ElaineK, about your #4: a couple summers ago I wear the suit to an sunny outdoor nationals (Portland) and was absolutely AMAZED at how much heat these things soak up from the sun when they are dry. I was wearing a B70. (It is much more tolerable when the suit is wet, but they also dry quickly.) This is a real factor to consider when wearing the "rubber-style" tech suits in an outdoor meet.
And it made me think that one of the use for "dead" suits would be for solar panels...
Oh, I dunno...it is my understanding that after Sept 1 you can't wear these suits in a triathlon either. Triathletes aren't exactly known for being tech-phobic.
I don't find this persuasive as swimming is a dirty word for most triathletes. They apparently want to spend copious tech gear $$$ on the two favored sports.
that we are still talking more about tech suit than actual swimming
I hate that some people feel that they can wear tech suits in lieu of training.
Some people modify their goals with the tech suits on. If you goal is to do a 21.9 in the 50 free, then you goal should be a 21.5 or something with the tech suit.
these tech suits have become floatation devices where as the pre-2007 suits didn't have an effect on buoyency.
Too much money to be spending on a suit whether you have the money or not.
there is nothing something about a National or World Record when they were broken in the triple digits in Altanta or I saw WR being broken heat after heat in Rome.
Some people just don't want to let it die.
that is all that I got.
there is nothing something about a National or World Record when they were broken in the triple digits in Altanta
Sorry, Tom, you weren't there so you didn't see that most of the records were SMASHED by multiple seconds and he suits may have contributed to some of that, they are not giving 2-3 seconds per 50. Also, most of the records that were being broken were set during the tech suit era anyway so that dulls that argument even more.
More of the same purist drivel ... Been there, read that.
No, not purist; just PRACTICAL, for me. Leslie, I know you're addicted to your tech suit and that's cool with me. You're a Top 10 swimmer so you have valid reasons for wanting to be as competitive as possible; especially if your competition is wearing a tech suit. If I had been in a tech suit it would have started a wave of :laugh2::laugh2::laugh2: throughout the Aquatic Center! :blush:
You go girl! :cheerleader:
P.S. Sorry if my "drivel" offended you. :)
