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“Dude, could I bum a LZR?”

The Screaming Viking ! | Profile
February 25, 2009



The decision has been made. The decree has been handed down. FINA isn’t really going to do anything about the suits except to say, “let’s not make them any faster than they already are.”

It’s all right. I am not gonna cry about it. I chose to embrace the suits a long time ago. I knew there wasn’t really a solution that could take us back to skin. I’m not gonna pout. I can live with it, and it will be exciting to see my swimmers go really freekin’ fast, but still…

Here’s a sign of how things have changed for me. At our state meet last weekend, my top girl was in an FS-PRO while it seemed like everyone else around her was in a LZR or a B70. I actually found myself walking around the deck like a junkie, asking coaches if any of their swimmers who had LZR’s didn’t make finals; not to make a point about the suits being fast… it was to see if I could borrow the suit. I felt like such a sell-out. “Dude, could I bum a LZR?” My swimmer did the work and had turned in lifetime bests, but she was still getting beat by swimmers who had never beat her before. I found myself thinking, “if I could just get my hands on a better suit…?” It’s all-right. Not everyone can afford them, but if they really want the suit, they will find a way. My girl will get one in college, even if she is at a mid-major and has to take a student loan to do it.

Maybe I should start a tech-suit rental service out of my car to make some extra cash. Maybe a used tech-suit ebay store would help. Then, when swimmers graduate they can dump their suit on me to get some of their money back and I can turn a small profit while helping the needy.

I was so proud of my swimmer, though. She chose to not wear her PRO at our conference meet. She wanted to break the conference record without it. Attagirl.

When I say I am embracing the suits…. I really mean it. I am going to find a way to get my swimmers in them. My high school doesn’t allow athletic teams to do fundraisers, and I know that my boosters are not allowed to buy the actual gear that they race in. It is up to me to get creative.

Here’s my plan: I am gonna milk this Screaming Viking gig for all it’s worth.

Tyr is the Norse God of Single Combat. A major swim suit company named for a character in the Viking pantheon of deities for cryin’ out loud! My goal is to make a comeback and earn a Tyr sponsorship. Even better… I want to become the first sponsored swim blogger in history. I will emblazon the Tyr logo on my Viking helmet. I will tattoo it to my body. I will sing the praises of Tyr brand tech suits every chance I get. I will train like Rocky IV and make my comeback at master’s meets to show people that I can do lifetime bests 13 years after my prime if I wear TYR’s brand of fancy-pants when I race. Hell… I will even learn to speak Norwegian and wear fur on deck at meets if that helps me in my cause. If I am going to sell out, I am not afraid to do it in a big way. This is my only shot to get my swimmers the gear they need, and I will do whatever it takes.

C’mon, Tyr… I would be a great investment. I won’t desert you like Erik Vendt. I could be your most shameless promoter. All you gotta do is give up a little high-tech fabric to help a brother out.

I have already modified my hat. What do you think?



Post a Comment

#54
Mike P   March 26, 2009 at 5:24pm
As a highschool senior fresh out of my last highschool swim season, I can account for the advantage that people who can afford these new suits have over those of us that cannot. At conference I got 5th in the 100 fly in 55.38 wearing a fs2 jammer that had been worn 10+ times. The guy who got 6th went a 56-mid I believe. At sectionals he showed up in a blue70 bodyskin. Even though I dropped down to a 54.60 in the same jammer, the guy with the new suit went a 54.3. Idk maybe he just had a good taper and a great race.
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#53
To: WaTu   March 6, 2009 at 9:56pm
I am not saying I am all that happy with it all, but let's stop being idealistic here. Snap into reality. The reality is that the suits are here and most likely here to stay. But when you start from the beginning there are a bunch of people who flat out can't afford to pay $75 per month just to train. I have boys and girls that I coach that can't afford to do club because of all the fees. So, they are have nots. They won't be players in the game. I can only bring them so far in 3 months (hs season). The players will be the kids whose families can afford to pay the fees month after month for them to swim club. It is sad, but it is reality. This suit thing simply took it to another level. But I did hear someone say it well. Some kids have expensive clothing or iPods or cell phones (and bills) and some kids choose to get suits instead. You cut one place if you want to get the suit. Basic math and economics. I can save $500 over 6 months pretty easily if there is something I really want. And I think if most people at realistic about it, they could too. Or they could continue to whine about it all.

And if you are that much of a purist, then go back to lycra briefs, no cap, no goggles and no training equipment.
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#52
Jaybee   March 6, 2009 at 9:43pm
I think there has been some misreading of the FINA stance -they are actually in the process of unrolling a several stage 'reining in' of these suits and forcing compliance to a set standard. We are talking Athletes having to have their suits scrutinised at meets, the bouyancy and thickness of these suits being reduced and the possibility of restrictions on how the suits are fastened.Unfortunately this will probably increase the prices further but at least they will have less effect.
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#51
WaTu   March 6, 2009 at 8:09pm
Your view of sports is really sort of depressing; it's probably a majority view, but still depressing. The idea "haves and have-nots" is just hunky dory undermines the whole concept of a person excelling based on his own efforts and development. It's a shame that now swimming too is joining the ranks of the golf, cycling, skiing and other equipment sports. Maybe it's ok if that's what swimming has always represented to you, but it hasn't always been that way.
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#50
To: WaTu   March 6, 2009 at 10:49am
The first time competitive swimming has been expensive? What? How much does it cost to swim for a club team per month? And that is just the monthly dues, that does not include meet fees, the hotel stays, the food when you are at the meets. Also included are equipment fees or bags, suits, caps, team gear and clothing, etc. Swimming is a country club sport. Soccer and golf and tennis are expensive too. So is gymnastics and baseball, etc. Don't you think the kids with the best bats, shoes, clubs or racquets have an advantage too? Is that bad? It is ok to have haves and have nots. Our world is full of that in every realm, from business to politics and everywhere in between. It is not ideal, but it is reality. And I don't blame you for blaming the suit companies - it would be foolish for us to believe they are in it for the love of the sport and not the profit. They see the dollar signs and that makes them happy. If you dont like the suits, then dont wear them. But dont keep complaining. It is ok for us to have a bit of a revolution. Eventually everyone will catch up. Just relax.
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#49
Suge   March 6, 2009 at 10:48am
well said WaTu
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#48
WaTu   March 6, 2009 at 10:28am
The suits make a joke a of the record book. There will be a massive readjustment downward of qualification times for championship meets after this year, and suits will be the reason. Sure, faster pools have also reduced times, but at least faster pools aid all the swimmers in the field.

This is the first time that most of competitive swimming has become an expensive, equipment sport with the introduction of something so expensive and basic that it creates haves and have-nots.
Maybe $400-$600 is a drop in the bucket for year round swimmers, but many of those same swimmers participate in summer and high school leagues where it's uneconomic for a bulk of the competitors. Swimming shouldn't become a sport of haves and have-nots.. The next step, of course, will be claims by Speedo and Tyr and Blue70 that they have improved their fabrics which will drive sales of new models annually. This is not what the sport needs, especially in this economy.
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#47
FsII   March 4, 2009 at 8:36pm
sorry, I didn't read your comment. What I said wasn't directed at you or anything you said. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
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#46
Anonymous Coward   March 1, 2009 at 8:14pm
tyr titan will even the playing field
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#45
Michael Bowen   March 1, 2009 at 8:11pm
fsII said:
“Heck, I don't ven have anything past an FSII, and I'm a junior natinal level swimmer. If you believe that high-tech suits are all mental you are a fool, and anything you say can't change that.”
Didn't say it was all mental. But you can't discount the possible mental advantage to the LZR/B70 wearer...or disadvantage to the non-wearer; have that "oh, cr*p, so-and-so is close to my ability level...could their wearing a LZR/B70 give them the edge to beat me?" thought go through your head.

As a (running) coach I think the most beneficial thing I provide to my athletes is that last piece of self-confidence, usually by telling the athlete to "relax, go out, and have fun." But you cannot discount the constellation of factors that (indirectly) affect how you move through the water come meet time.
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#44
Isaac   February 27, 2009 at 7:43pm
Good article. Way to spark up a little controversy. I personally would like one of the Tyr briefs, just so I could swim fast and still be looking good.

p.s. to the SV, wouldn't mind getting the hook up with the new brief if this whole Tyr thing works out.
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#43
FsII   February 27, 2009 at 7:28pm
Heck, I don't ven have anything past an FSII, and I'm a junior natinal level swimmer. If you believe that high-tech suits are all mental you are a fool, and anything you say can't change that.
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#42
Michael Bowen   February 27, 2009 at 2:55pm
Viking - sometimes I think the readers miss the part of your blog where your tongue is planted firmly within cheek. Amazing to think that a suit could do so much, and probably more than "just" the 2% increase in performance. I guess when all the other factors are equal (CV fitness, technique, etc.) that little bit of brain "goose" goes a long way...on top of the technological advantage.

Good luck with the creative financing for the suits, my friend. :)
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#41
AC Has A Point   February 27, 2009 at 9:26am
AC - I wish we knew who you really were because I would like to give you credit for your last posting. It is not just the suits where people can have a financial edge. It is everywhere.

As far as Viking - It is good to see that you want to do all you can for your swimmers, but struggle with the purist inside of you. I think kids would be better off if they had a chance to swim for someone like you. Not only in the water, but in life. Keep bringing us your thoughts.
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#40
The Screaming Viking !   February 27, 2009 at 8:40am
Who said a kid should feel guilty for wearing a tech suit? You are not a cheater if you wear a tech suit. You are playing the modern game of swimming as it now has to be played. I don’t want to take any glory away from anyone who accomplishes something great when they are wearing a suit. Julia Smit and Dana Vollmer have been awesome this week and they deserve their due credit. It is not like they were the only ones in suits… The point is that it is now the expectation to have an expensive suit at high level meets. This blog is about the modern addition of a new technology and the uncomfortable feeling that comes with the harsh realization that you are one of the “have-nots.” It is the new reality. I have to get my kids in tech suits because it is now the expectation. If you are in a championship heat and you are not wearing one, then you are not doing everything you can to excel.

Look at the way Mark Shubert talked about them before the Olympics… if you wear an inferior suit, you will be left behind in the modern world of swimming. Speedo boasted a 2% drop in times… that is a pretty good season of training and taper. Shubert even talked Erik Vendt into turning his back on a company that paid him 80k a year to wear their suits. Vendt is a hero to me, so I was very interested when all that went down. How can you not be confident in a suit that NASA helped to develop?

Quote: “My advice to athletes is, ‘You have a black-and-white decision - the money or the gold medal.' And it's going to be a real test of character."
“There is no doubt the suit makes a difference and there is no doubt that there is one manufacturer that's put millions into research while the other manufacturers are more into fashion. Nobody at this level [world-class athletes] can afford to give up 2 per cent. It is not rocket science. ...” -- Mark Schubert

Hopefully the college landscape will not be hurt as some day every college program might eventually have the resources to suit up everybody. I don’t know that the high schools will ever have a chance at that.

I really am moving on. I will be okay with the suits. I just need a new business plan for my team.
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#39
Anonymous Coward   February 27, 2009 at 8:02am
So the ultimate question is.. If a swimmer gets up and breaks a record without a cap on, no goggles, and in a practice suit does that make them a better swimmer? Or just a less educated swimmer? Does a swimmer that uses a power tower in a training session because their club can afford it need to feel bad or like they are cheating because they are using the latest technology? If they use video software to watch their strokes should they feel like they are cheating because they have a $400 camera and $1000 software to do this? If they have an indoor 50 meter pool with a full-weight room should they feel like they are cheating because some teams can only get 4 lanes in a 20 yard pool? If they have a personal trainer that cost $300 a month should they feel like they are cheating?

I think you get my point... top athletes (in any sport) are often using cutting edge technology (which is always expensive) in practice and competition. Look at Dara Torres and her entourage of trainers, massage therapists, nutritionist, etc.
I wonder if everyone had as much discussion the first time a swimmer showed up at a swim meet with a pair of goggles and a cap.
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#38
To: Sandra   February 26, 2009 at 9:41am
Sandra my dear, you are dumb. Ray is right. You have to be able to think for yourself and know how to taper. It is the responsibility of the swimmer and the coach. A coach must teach his swimmers about a taper and the season plan before the season starts. You cant just show up at workout and do what the coach tells you to.
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#37
Sandra   February 26, 2009 at 9:28am
How is that the swimmers fault? He is just doing what his coach is telling him to do.
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#36
Ray   February 26, 2009 at 9:00am
Sandra said:
“The other huge variable when it comes to championship time is how well the swimmer tapers. What if they don't hit their taper and the other kid does. Isn't that unfair as well? A swimmer who is wearing a suit and hits his taper is going to crush.”
This is a ridiculous statement. Is not understanding how to taper an unfair disadvantage? No. It simply means the athlete/coach do not understand the sport well enough to excel. If that athlete wants to swim faster they should learn how to taper properly.
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#35
And The Kid...   February 26, 2009 at 7:43am
And the kid who takes their vitamins and drinks 100 ounces of water per day and eat his Wheaties is going to do well too. And don't forget - he takes an occasional hit off a bong at a college house party, that helps as well.
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#34
Sandra   February 26, 2009 at 7:20am
The other huge variable when it comes to championship time is how well the swimmer tapers. What if they don't hit their taper and the other kid does. Isn't that unfair as well? A swimmer who is wearing a suit and hits his taper is going to crush.
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#33
The Screaming Viking !   February 25, 2009 at 10:42pm
Nothing I have said is aimed at any particular athlete in a lzr. I am happy for every swimmer out there no matter how they compare to mine. I hold no grudge against any athlete who wears a tech suit. No excuses are being made here. This season was awesome. No regrets.no jealousy. And no need to bring the names of innocent athletes into it. This was about me having to deal with suits mattering more now than in the past. I am sure there are a lot of coaches out there who relate. I will love this sport no matter what suits are being worn. It has just evolved and I feel I should be able to poke a little fun at my struggle with adaptation.
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#32
Ghandi   February 25, 2009 at 10:39pm
This is getting a little insane. No more pointing fingers or name calling. Everyone is going to have their own opinion on the suits. No need to bring down Viking because of his, or other people because they think differently.
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#31
Swimmer Fan Eats $#!+   February 25, 2009 at 10:25pm
That's all I need to say. If LeBron wore a LZR he could dunk from a half court take off!!!
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#30
East Bound And Down   February 25, 2009 at 10:22pm
If Kenny Powers wore a B70, he could throw a baseball over 100 mph again! These suits need to go.
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#29
Swimmer Fan   February 25, 2009 at 9:48pm
wasnt*
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#28
Swimmer Fan   February 25, 2009 at 9:36pm
ok emily wasnt even tapered and didnt go her best time..yea she was wearing the suit but this guys whole point is his swimmer wont go buy the suit so its her fault she was equal with everyone else. The suit doesnt make the swimmer faster its the mind set of the suit. You can wear any suit you want and you can still go best times and break records. Swimmers at state wore practice suits at their conferences and set records there so get your facts straight before you go talking bad about people wearing fast suits. Also the people who broke the records work hard and deserved those records so dont go saying they only got it because the suit. I can bet they work harder then your swimmer
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#27
Bekah   February 25, 2009 at 9:18pm
I don't think Ms. Land was the target of the comment by the Viking. Ease up there thunder. Viking wasnt making excuses for Molly. He was simply saying it is tough for kids going into a meet like State and not having every advantage available to them. This article was also written with a slice of sarcasm. But thank you for taking the bait and getting all fired up about it. And I think the Viking would put Ms. Land in the same boat as his girl. Would she have beaten Emily if she had a suit? Who knows?
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#26
Swimmer.   February 25, 2009 at 9:07pm
The girl that got 3rd at the state meet last weekend in the 100 back was wearing the same exact suit that your swimmer, Molly Brown, was wearing...so does that mean she was taking some kind of supplement before the race to beat your swimmer? She was wearing the Pro and still went fast. So that's not a very good excuse.
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#25
AMEN My Brother!!!   February 25, 2009 at 8:46pm
To NOT So Terrible Article - don't sit there and tell me I am not doing my job as a coach because my kids want the same suit MP wears and their big rivals are going to wear. If anything, I am doing my job because I am giving them every single advantage possible. It is the same reason we put them in matching caps and goggles and clothing. It makes them feel good, feel like they are special and thus prepares them to swim a race. If they put in the work, then they will reap the rewards to an even greater degree. I think the more you train, the more the suit makes a difference. I think the better the swimmer, the more the suit makes a difference. I think an Olympic level athlete gets more out of the suit than a high school All-American and a high school All-American more than a State qualifier and so on and so forth.
Like AC said, make sense when you post. Take your weak sauce to another swim site. You gotts to bring your A game to the FLO!!!
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#24
Anonymous Coward   February 25, 2009 at 8:06pm
you are out of your mind if you think that if michael phelps went out and broke world records in a speedo people would stop wearing the new suits. They have proven to help swimmers move faster through the water. please the next time you post make a logical assumption
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#23
NOT So Terrible Article   February 25, 2009 at 8:03pm
You don't KNOW that you're at a disadvantage. You BELIEVE you're at a disadvantage. Wouldn't it be great if everyone thought like annonymous coward and went out and raced in the traditional suits? I would have loved to see Michael Phelps go out and kill all the world records in an old school suit. And I bet alot of people would give them up if he had.

It's not about being at a disadvantage, it's about having faith in your training, in your coach, in your relay, not your $$$. Your kids will be faster if you can get them to buy into the belief that they have been prepared to swim fast.
I think at the professional level, they will be provided the suits, so who cares. Keep it an even playing field for the people that aren't paying for them, but at the collegiate and high school level, the kids without alot of money (i.e. college kids who are in debt and high school kids who are poor) SHOULDN'T feel they are at a disadvantage, because nothing is PROVEN or KNOWN, it is believed. If you believe you are a second behind when standing behind the blocks, then the kid is mentally weak, and the coach hasn't done his job.
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#22
Confused Is Right   February 25, 2009 at 7:01pm
I didnt say Viking wouldnt let his swimmer wear a LZR or B70 or any other techno suit. I was talking about "terrible article." it seemed to me that he wouldnt let his athletes wear the suit. I know Viking would let his girl have the suit if she wanted it and could afford it. And I know he did everything in his power to get her one. I was one of the coaches he asked to borrow the suit. Sorry if i mispoke or didnt make sense. I just didnt get the point that terrible article wa trying to make. He must still wear Converse Chuck All Stars when he plays basketball too.
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#21
Southern Swimmer   February 25, 2009 at 6:15pm
I agree with Anonymous Coward. Could you still go your times without the tech suits? Or should the suit take credit for your hard work... If we as a swimming commitee know the suit makes you bouyant, why are we still allowing it? Where are the values? If we are so worried about our highest level swimmers putting chemicals in their body to make themselves faster, than why aren't we worried about things outside the body? CHEATING IS CHEATING!
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#20
Thunder   February 25, 2009 at 5:56pm
This adds one more barrier to success for the socioeconomically disadvantaged swimmers out there (and to those trying to promote competitive swimming in low-income communities).
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#19
Hells Yea   February 25, 2009 at 5:38pm
lets not call this issue over either, FINA meets again in march to further discuss the more important issues such air trapping, i dont think we will be able to put the issue to rest until after the big meets this summer, if FINA doesnt ban the suits by then, they are here to stay
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#18
Anonymous Coward   February 25, 2009 at 4:45pm
i take pride in the fact that i still wear speedos and beat people in LZRs it makes me feel like i just saved 500 BUCKS
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#17
Feeling Confused   February 25, 2009 at 4:26pm
Hey, Feeling Good, could you pass me the secret decoder ring you're using that helped you find the part where Viking said he didn't allow his athlete to purchase a suit? Because I'm pretty sure I read the part where he said why she didn't.
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#16
Mid-Majors   February 25, 2009 at 4:19pm
hey don't knock mid-majors, I swim for one and we got LSR's for free!
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#15
Feeling Good, Getting The Gold   February 25, 2009 at 4:17pm
There is a difference in feeling good and getting the gold. If you know your swimmer has put in the work and they are in the spot to contend for a State title, a sectional title or a junior cut or whatever, and they are in a heat where most if not all the others have a techno suit, then you are crazy not to have them pay the $500 for the suit. Are you saying that you won't allow your athletes to purchase the suit?

You are exactly right "terriblearticle" - your kids should feel good about any and all best times, no matter what their place. In high school swimming, it is not just about best times though. The places matter- to the team, to the kids and to the school. And if you have to make a financial sacrifice in order to achieve the place you want, then you do it. I would much rather have one of my kids afford the techno suit and get the place, then sit there behind the blocks knowing they are already 1 second behind because they dont have the suit. The mental edge is worth the sacrifice. If you cant sleep at night with one of your kids wearing one of those suits, then you better coach summer league, because everyone else is wearing them and your kids are going to lose out in the end because whether you like it or not, they make a difference and the difference is huge. So, if you are saying these suits are only worn by people who dont have integrity, then you must really have an issue with all of our Olympians and world class swimmers because they are all wearing them if you hadnt noticed. And most of them love them. Have a wonderful time working your butt off as a coach (because it sounds like you really are a good coach) and having your kids miss the cut. That is the other thing that is going to happen - all of the qualifying times are going to get lower and lower because the equations that are used to get those times are going to be skewed by the suits as well. In the end, either go with the flo and let your kids succeed or keep your "integrity" and lose your job and the respect that your swimmers have for you.
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#14
Terrible Article   February 25, 2009 at 3:58pm
If my kid comes in dead last with a personal best time, that was not paid for, he should be proud. If a kid wins a race by .01 because they threw down $500 with a half-assed season of training, what is there to be proud of? I can sleep at night knowing my athletes haven't paid for personal bests. I will gladly lose a race with integrity than win it with BS.

Regarding the satire in the second half of the article, my fault for not interpreting it that way. Read in that tone, it's a great exageration on the extent to which some coaches are willing to go to get a gold medal.
Regardless, thank you for the response "screaming viking".
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#13
One Viking To Another..   February 25, 2009 at 3:55pm
Not sure which part is terrible, guess I can't read so good. I for one see your frustration and can visualize the horns pitch down as you look to the floor in frustration. Horns off to you and your swimmer for standing tall with the Pro at state and sans tech for the conference record.

From one norsemen to another, keep rockin' the horns.
P.S. I agree, if you are going to sell out, practice what you preach with 100% effort.
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#12
Viking Sucks!!!   February 25, 2009 at 3:47pm
Viking I can't believe you would actually go the lengths of asking other coaches and swimmers for a suit. What kind of coach are you? I would never stoop to such a low pathetic depth for one of my swimmers. I would instead just tell them that all that matters is what you feel on the inside and that you have to be able to look your self in the mirror and be ok with that person. If TYR sponsors you, I will never wear their products again. How could they sponsor someone who would do anything within reason for one of their athletes. You are everything that is wrong with our sport.

If you didnt already, please read this with a 6% addition of neopreen and sacrcasm.
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#11
I Feel You.   February 25, 2009 at 3:16pm
my fastest girl went into regionals seeded to go to state. at regionals she wore her fsII and went best times in all her events. we were both happy about this, and in no way does she think she failed. she didn't make the callup list by .1, and there were several girls that dropped 1-3 secs off their best times at regionals that will now be swimming at state this weekend (2 in our region that beat her were wearing lzrs). going into the meet she was proud to be swimming without the suit; neither of us wanted to admit it would make that big of a difference and had confidence in the work that was put in. but now we're left to wonder 'what if?'

now, i would also like to bum a lzr. sectionals is next weekend. a blue70 will do.
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#10
To: Terrible Article   February 25, 2009 at 2:14pm
I agree with you 100% that a child's success should not depend on their places, but be honest, that is what these kids look at. And if Vikings girl wins conference and beats a girl all seson long, then loses to her at State - the question will be why? Is it the training or is it the suit? Well, I know enough about the way Viking works out his kids vs. how another girl gets "coached". So, is it the suit? HECK YES!!! And is Viking right in saying that he should do what it takes to give his girl the same edge as the rich kids?
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#9
The Screaming Viking !   February 25, 2009 at 2:13pm
Neither my swimmer or myself consider anything about this season to be a failure. She had no issues with not having a LZR. She is just happy to be a swimmer and I am happy to have the honor to coach someone with her head screwed on so straight. We were both very pleased with her best times.

In this "terrible article" I was poking fun at myself and the self-doubt that comes with "not keeping up with the Jones's" in the age of the technical suit. If you don't think that swimmers feel pressure to buy a LZR for the big meet, you are in denial. If you could run a study that says the suits do nothing, more power to you. But as it is right now, the pressure to buy one when everyone else has one is inherent, and as a coach I can't help but feel the ridiculous need to find ways to help get them in my athletes' hands. Sorry to offend.
The really sad part is that I would have to explain all that.
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#8
Hells Yea   February 25, 2009 at 2:08pm
seem to have hit a nerve, but if i was tyr i would sponsor you
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#7
Terrible Article   February 25, 2009 at 1:24pm
I wonder...how many swims are actually hindered by the suits mechanically, but the net performance improved via psychology? How many championship performances have been ruined because they decided to wear a suit they had never worn before? USA swimming and the suit companies want to look at fast times and say "look what the suits can do", but how do we know the times wouldn't be faster without the suits? You can't run that study.

The really sad part is that your swimmer considers herself a failure because she was beaten despite her fast swims. The girl has made undeniable individual progress in an individual sport, and she's disappointed?
Refering to an article written earlier in the year pertaining to "fast swims when your tired to maintain confidence": It's a false confidence. They should see the progress made through hard work, not the $$$, and be proud of their accomplishments achieved through honoring commitments.
Coaching 101
Refering to an article written earlier in the year pertaining to "fast swims when your tired to maintain confidence": It's a false confidence. They should see the progress made through hard work, not the $$$, and be proud of their accomplishments achieved through honoring committments.
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#6
Shug   February 25, 2009 at 1:17pm
pathetic is right...this is really sad that it's come to this
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#5
Michael Bowen   February 25, 2009 at 10:43am
Mrs. Coach said:
“...you offering to get tattooed for TYR also has me choked up...but in a different way. ;-)”
The thought of where Viking would get the tat scares the hell out of me.

THAT'S IT, VIKING!
Hold an auction - or a raffle - winner gets to choose the location of the Tyr tat! Hey, you might even sell video of the tatting and make a few bucks...
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#4
William Broch   February 25, 2009 at 10:27am
Boy howdy. I'm about to know how that feels when I go race a bunch of LZR/B70s in my stretched out FS Pro.

Descenza is doin alright in the TYR Tracer! There are many suits available now, don't know of the actual quality. Hopefully the market for the suits is getting better.
http://collegeswimming.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3749&sid=cbab24344bb0b92fa35e6e660c9d2ff1
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#3
Mrs. Coach   February 25, 2009 at 9:11am
Viking, the story of your athlete, unable to fairly compete because of these damn suits got me a little choked up. The whole thing is just wrong.

On the other hand, you offering to get tattooed for TYR also has me choked up...but in a different way. ;-)
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#2
Pathetic   February 25, 2009 at 9:07am
Absolutely pathetic. Look at what we've been reduced to. Is that fun? Do we really think that begging for a swim suit is a good thing? I agree with fighting for one's athletes to give them the best opportunity to beat the competition, but not at the expense of one's dignity.
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#1
I Feel You   February 25, 2009 at 8:01am
oh man, i felt like i was reading my own thoughts for a second there. my girl was one of the few not in a lzr a few weeks ago and she was proud of it, even though she was beat by people that couldn't beat her before. last night i was brainstorming ways to get one for sectionals.
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4.1/5 (8 votes cast)