I didn't say I would quit. I did quit. I've stopped swimming competitively because I don't like the direction the sport is going.
The ugly part of you is very ugly indeed. Rude too. You should keep that part of yourself to yourself.
Well, you can look at it this way. The good 90% of me wishes you didn't feel the need to quit. The bad 10% of me wishes you well in your new endeavors (and also sort of wonders why you feel "plain-old" swimming is such a bad sport).
There are many others in his camp including most ... parents of age groupers.
Count me out.
I understand restrictions for age group 14 & unders, I suppose. (And they rarely wear tech suits for anything but a champ event anyway.) However, having anted up for 2 x Speedo LZR Elite so far this year (one ripping), I don't consider this a bargain by any stretch. At least the Nero Comps lasted a reasonable amount of time or were typically speedily replaced if a problem ensued within the warranty.
I thought that part of the logic of the coverage restrictions was to ensure that the suits don't give any significant advantage. Are people finding that the current generation of FINA approved suits still give a significant advantage? If not, why pay the rather high asking price for them?
Having competed in two of the FINA legal kneeskins, I think there is an advantage over a practice suit or tank. How much? Hard to tell. But there is definitely some degree of compression, buoyancy and water repellency in the new suits.
As for the kids, at the last big USA-S meet I attended (Sectionals) 99% of the girls had on the Speedo LZR Elite kneeskin.
So when someone says they will quit because they can no longer aid their swimming artificially, a small very ugly part of me says "good riddance." (The better part of me says nothing of the sort, of course.)
I didn't say I would quit. I did quit. I've stopped swimming competitively because I don't like the direction the sport is going.
The ugly part of you is very ugly indeed. Rude too. You should keep that part of yourself to yourself.
i hate people who hate people who hate tech suits.....
Is this like "the enemy of my enemy is my friend"?
So that means you love people who hate tech suits?
So when someone says they will quit because they can no longer aid their swimming artificially, a small very ugly part of me says "good riddance." (The better part of me says nothing of the sort, of course.)
Sure, people who wear tech suits (mostly) train hard. But there is no denying it is an artificial aid to speed, no different conceptually from fins or wetsuits (which are the "ultimate" tech suit, of course, but have been around for quite some time).
Those who would quit now that the suits are gone, because swimming is somehow different must have only started a year or two ago, when the tech suit explosion started.
And those who quit because the suits became commonplace should stay away, because everyone knows that the suits made some positive difference, and quitting because you don't like the new rules (or acceptable new gear) is just childish.
At the risk of repeating myself, racing is racing. Whether we race in drag suits, jammers or tech suits, it's ultimately yourself against the clock, and against your (age-group) competitors. The times may be slower, but that may be as much a factor of aging as the slower suits.
I loved the suits, and I think they'll be back when FINA realize the implications of their decision. Maybe it will take until Bowman and Phelps are gone, but they'll be back.
Until then, racing is racing. I can get a beat-down from several swimmers regardless of attire. I look forward to avenging those in any legal suit.
Quitting because of suits being banned or boycotting because they were allowed in the first place is really, well, wet.
It really seems like childish tantrums: "My bat! My Ball! I'm saying it's not fair so I'm going home and the game is over!"
Loved the suits...sorry they are not there for you now but that's life. Go get those times without them now...you have a goal!
Hated the suits...be happy that you don't have to worry about them, and your sense of fairplay is back in vogue.
I prefer to swim without suits for my "true times" but that's because I am so far down on the curve, I felt I have enough to gain without seeking the benefits of a suit--just a personal choice. That said I raced in a loaner in my "off events" and found it great fun...I think we need to get over this and leave the name and blame game to stupid sports.
Nova, I think you need to get to know a few folks before judging their ugliness...you don't come off quite like Aphrodite with your comments...Chris (who can defend himself) didn't single you out...paranoid much?
:2cents:
I liked the tech suits, and thought they were neat. It appeared to me that it was an exciting time to be a competitive swimmer, so I gave the sport a try, and liked it a lot. Without the tech suits? Not so much. It feels like a giant step backwards to me. This is why I've not been in the pool so much and have gone back to competitive tennis this summer.
And Mel and Grace *** have disappeared from the swim scene too ...
Here's a reason I hate people who hate tech suits:
www.swimwestside.com/.../
This guy calls Rowdy a "stain" and urges us all to try training. I really hate when some idiot tells me to "train."
I didn't say I would quit. I did quit. I've stopped swimming competitively because I don't like the direction the sport is going.
The ugly part of you is very ugly indeed. Rude too. You should keep that part of yourself to yourself.
Chris isn't being rude. He is stating his feelings about the tech suit debate. He is one of the best people you will find in swimming(not just usms but swimming in general)
While I wish FINA had only gone back to 2007 models and before, they didn't. Poor me.
I have the choice to quit or continue swimming under the new rules. I love the sport, so I continue on.
Just because our zippers and legskins are gone, there are plenty of other reasons to continue to swim and race.
