The suit cost argument is silly at a masters level, because there are so many advantages masters swimmers with money have. You can afford to go to away meets, you can afford to buy a pool for your house that you own, you can afford the extra time to swim, or to move to a part of the country where there is ample pool access. ...
Frankly, I don't see the cost issue as silly, for many masters swimmers I would imagine plunking down $300, $400 even $500 for a suit is a big financial deal. If the suits had been $50 or $100 all along I can't see a thread like this even existing. As far as I'm concerned I can take or leave the suits, a suit isn't going to get me into the top ten anytime soon, but working harder can - although I did buy an FS-Pro jammer recently because it was $50. While our over all income is higher so too are our general expenses. House payments, car payments(lease or loan), day-care, after school care, little league, kids swim lessons, general commuting expenses, heat, electrical, food (seems like we hit the supermarket three times a week) - there isn't a whole lot left over for me to indulge in extra swim expenses, like extra pool time, or coached workouts, or very expensive suits - let alone buy a backyard pool.
The suit cost argument is silly at a masters level, because there are so many advantages masters swimmers with money have. You can afford to go to away meets, you can afford to buy a pool for your house that you own, you can afford the extra time to swim, or to move to a part of the country where there is ample pool access. ...
Frankly, I don't see the cost issue as silly, for many masters swimmers I would imagine plunking down $300, $400 even $500 for a suit is a big financial deal. If the suits had been $50 or $100 all along I can't see a thread like this even existing. As far as I'm concerned I can take or leave the suits, a suit isn't going to get me into the top ten anytime soon, but working harder can - although I did buy an FS-Pro jammer recently because it was $50. While our over all income is higher so too are our general expenses. House payments, car payments(lease or loan), day-care, after school care, little league, kids swim lessons, general commuting expenses, heat, electrical, food (seems like we hit the supermarket three times a week) - there isn't a whole lot left over for me to indulge in extra swim expenses, like extra pool time, or coached workouts, or very expensive suits - let alone buy a backyard pool.
