I am posting this as an informational item only. If you guys want to start another tech suit flame war over this, have at it, but I won't be participating.
Yesterday, I received an email which stated:
United States Masters Swimming is considering whether to allow Tech Suits (ie Blue 70, Speedo Fastskins, etc ) at short course yards meets.
Pacific Masters is polling swimmers who registered for the 2010 Pacific Masters Short Course Championships to find out what our swimmer's opinion is of this proposed rule change. The polling will close at noon, Tuesday September 7th.
This poll should take less than five minutes to complete. We do value your opinion, we hope to find out more about what our members think.
Unfortunately, having responded to the poll questions I can no longer access the poll, or I would post the questions too.
Parents
Former Member
My :2cents::
I loved the tech suits, especially the B70, which was relatively good value for money, since I got more than a handful of swims out of it.
I can understand the A/G parents do not want to spend $500+ on a suit that will last only a few swims. But that is a manufacturing/durability issue; if the suits could last dozens of swims or multiple seasons, perhaps that issue would be moot.
What I find really offensive is Speedo charging $375 for a fabric suit (women's LZR Elite) that will probably stretch out or rip after a few races. What's a bigger rip-off, or perversion of the sport's economics: a rubber B70 good for 30+ swims at $300, or a textile LZR Elite good for 3-6 swims at $375? :bitching:
For the men it may be different: perhaps a $100 TYR Tracer Light jammer is more or less equivalent to a $260 LZR Elite jammer. With less coverage, fit is probably more important than fabric or compression.
My prediction: tech suits (textile or not) will be back after 2012. Men will be allowed the same coverage as women (shoulders to knees). You heard it here first.
And, while FINA sucks (as do most national sports governing bodies), it only makes sense for USMS and USAS to follow their guidelines - no need to be even weirder than we are already (swimming yards, etc).
In conclusion, racing is racing - be it in tech suits, kneeskins, jammers, briefs or birthday suits.
YMMV.
My :2cents::
I loved the tech suits, especially the B70, which was relatively good value for money, since I got more than a handful of swims out of it.
I can understand the A/G parents do not want to spend $500+ on a suit that will last only a few swims. But that is a manufacturing/durability issue; if the suits could last dozens of swims or multiple seasons, perhaps that issue would be moot.
What I find really offensive is Speedo charging $375 for a fabric suit (women's LZR Elite) that will probably stretch out or rip after a few races. What's a bigger rip-off, or perversion of the sport's economics: a rubber B70 good for 30+ swims at $300, or a textile LZR Elite good for 3-6 swims at $375? :bitching:
For the men it may be different: perhaps a $100 TYR Tracer Light jammer is more or less equivalent to a $260 LZR Elite jammer. With less coverage, fit is probably more important than fabric or compression.
My prediction: tech suits (textile or not) will be back after 2012. Men will be allowed the same coverage as women (shoulders to knees). You heard it here first.
And, while FINA sucks (as do most national sports governing bodies), it only makes sense for USMS and USAS to follow their guidelines - no need to be even weirder than we are already (swimming yards, etc).
In conclusion, racing is racing - be it in tech suits, kneeskins, jammers, briefs or birthday suits.
YMMV.
