And to continue... FINA has removed tech suits from competition. FINA also doesn't allow fins, zoomers, pull buoys, outboard motors, or lots of other devices.
If you want to bring back tech suits, you might as well start arguing that masters swimmers should be able to compete using pull buoys. After all, it makes most of you faster, right? Let's allow pulling on the lane lines in masters. After all, we're old and fat and can't follow the same rules that real swimmers follow.
One other thing to note -- if there is a demand for people feeling good about themselves using tech suits, then someone should setup a tech suit meet. The USMS rules allow for non-conforming races to be held under USMS sanction, so long as it doesn't pose a safety risk. The times don't count, of course. But you're free to setup a meet where you offer events:
50 free with tech suit
50 free with fins
50 free with tech suit and fins
50 free with tech suit and fins and paddles
50 free with tech suit, fins, paddles, and pull buoy
If people show up, great. Have fun with that.
However, for official organized competition, I'd prefer that we look to follow the same set of rules that the entire rest of the world swimming community is following, and shut up about it already.
-Rick
And to continue... FINA has removed tech suits from competition. FINA also doesn't allow fins, zoomers, pull buoys, outboard motors, or lots of other devices.
If you want to bring back tech suits, you might as well start arguing that masters swimmers should be able to compete using pull buoys. After all, it makes most of you faster, right? Let's allow pulling on the lane lines in masters. After all, we're old and fat and can't follow the same rules that real swimmers follow.
One other thing to note -- if there is a demand for people feeling good about themselves using tech suits, then someone should setup a tech suit meet. The USMS rules allow for non-conforming races to be held under USMS sanction, so long as it doesn't pose a safety risk. The times don't count, of course. But you're free to setup a meet where you offer events:
50 free with tech suit
50 free with fins
50 free with tech suit and fins
50 free with tech suit and fins and paddles
50 free with tech suit, fins, paddles, and pull buoy
If people show up, great. Have fun with that.
However, for official organized competition, I'd prefer that we look to follow the same set of rules that the entire rest of the world swimming community is following, and shut up about it already.
-Rick
