Evolution

Hypotheticals

Competition season fast approaches and questions are raised about the new FINA rules.

The past year has been filled with questions of what’s legal and what’s not.  If you thought it was over, you should know that it’s just begun.  FINA has established new rules for testing suits, which have been clearly laid out for manufacturers.  A new list of approved suits has been released and the world of swimming goes about their daily business.  The new reality that swimming’s international body has placed upon the world of swimming once again presents a number of questions.  Here are a few questions and answers (or lack of) that we came up with to help guide you through your big meets.

Question #99 - The Speedo LZR Racer Elite: A panel-less LZR, or a seamless Pro?

Question #1 – Can I wear suits that aren’t on the approved list?

Yes and no.  If the suit was manufactured pre-2008, you’re probably safe.  Generally, any non-technical suits are allowed (ie. training suits and fully lycra suits).  Many technical suits will be allowed that are made completely of fabric as long as they meet the coverage restrictions.  However, there are a few suits that raise some questions.  The old Nike Swifts for example loaded a lot of silicone bands into the inside, which by the new rules should be illegal.

Question #2 – What process is there for checking suits?

Right now, there is no standard procedure for pre-race checks.  Most officials I’ve talked to don’t know or can’t tell the difference between models and we can’t expect them to.  Some of the new suits have a barcode to identify them to a scanner, though in practice this is a long way away from being usable at non-international competitions.

Question 2.1 – On another note, how can officials possibly know (or prove) if swimmers are doubling up on suits?

Question #3 – Can I wear a LZR with the panels removed?

I honestly have no idea.  I’ve heard it’s possible but have yet to try myself.  If I can get my hands on a ripped LZR, I will certainly try it out.  The question of whether racing in one would be legal is separate entirely, though a panel-less LZR is essentially the same as the new LZR Comp.

Question #4 – Do availability rules apply anymore?

Again, no idea.  If one suit becomes in excessive demand, which happened many times before 2008 and will again, there is really no way to know what FINA will do.  “Availability” is a loose term.

If you have any questions of your own, or any answers for us, please comment.

Tags: FINA, lzr comp, nike, speedo

Surviving in a post-2009 World

For companies such as Speedo, Arena and TYR, new restrictions set by FINA serve as a vital opportunity to regain lost marketshare (and glory), while for others, January 1st may serve as a suit apocalypse.

If you haven’t already, read Onward to 2010 for some background.

January 1st 2010 will serve as a big change in the swimming world, but anyone who thinks it will be a blast to the past is sadly mistaken.  The rules may change, but the suit wars will rage on.

What will be extremely critical in the way suit wars unfold will be the wording that FINA puts in place.  It will not be simple to define the boundaries that FINA envisions placing on suit development.  For example, neoprene is a textile, and plastic wrap is permeable.  We can only hope that FINA has learned its lesson and that the rules are clear enough this time around to ensure fair development of new technologies.  It would be a shame to land quickly back in the situation of the past two months because the rules were hastily drawn up.  FINA must do it right the first time and stick to their guns.

Once the rules are in place, new ideas and technologies will be tried and tested, each company that remains in the game will release a new signature suit, or re-release an old one.  The companies that come to the top this time, if the rules are clear, will be the ones who have invested time and effort in the development of their products.  I have seen Rocket Science Sports’ strategy for example – develop a suit for every scenario – and their outlook is promising.  Companies such as Arena, Speedo and TYR have an distinct advantage in their wide distribution abilities, leaving smaller companies such as Jaked, RSS and Blueseventy fighting an uphill battle.  These smaller manufacturers must be able to produce markedly better suits than their rivals if they wish to remain relevant.

What’s particularly important to note is that, regardless of the restrictions put in place by FINA, there is always progress to be made.  Whether the fabric is lighter, more drag resistant, more durable or even looks better there will always be something that sets suits apart. Every manufacturer must remember this and work towards continuous development of the best products possible.  This will be the only way to ensure survival in the post-2009 suit wars.

Tags: arena, blueseventy, jaked, rocket science sports, speedo, tyr

Onwards to 2010

The FINA Congress in Rome has made its decision.  Starting January 1st 2010, new restrictions will fall on approved suits.  Here’s what suits are going to look like post 2009:

• No suits, for men or women, will extend past the knees or onto the arms.
• Men’s suits will not extend above the waist.
• No zippers will be allowed.
• There will be some sort of restriction to textiles (though Nano SCS, what is used in many tech suits today is technically a textile, so we assume there will be some wording to avoid these types of fabrics).
• Tape will not be permitted on the body. (ie. no sealing your suit shut or using medical tape to enhance body position)

It appears as if we’ll be seeing some big product launches this fall and winter.  Many of the newer companies will have to release new products to stay in the game.  It will be interesting to see if this also impacts triathlon and open water swimmers.  As for the records, our guess is they’ll stick.  It would be foolish to erase every record back to pre-2000 when bodysuits caught on, but I wouldn’t put it past FINA.

Tags: blueseventy, FINA, jaked, lzr, suits

Availability

Availability… what really constitutes availability?  In FINA’s case, availability is key to ensuring a fair playing field, allowing every swimmer access to the best suit technology.  But if a swimmer only has access to an already worn, or even wet suit, is that really a level playing field?  I understand that suit manufacturers have been put in a time crunch to produce suits for Rome, especially those which had suits approved last minute.  I also understand the responsibility of each manufacturer to ensure that the athletes it sponsors are taken care of.  However, each manufacturer in Rome must also understand the importance of fairness.  So, manufacturers, listen carefully: if an athlete wants a suit, they’d better get it now.  Whether that athlete is Michael Phelps or an unknown from Turkmenistan, it doesn’t matter.  Every athlete is entitled to their opportunity to swim fast and every suit company in the world believes their suit is that opportunity, so give it to them.  If that athlete is going to Sharpie out your logo, it doesn’t matter.  If that athlete is your sponsored athlete’s biggest rival, it doesn’t matter.  Rome is an opportunity for each suit company to show that they believe in fairness and equality in the sport and each and every suit companies survival depends on the opinions of the swimmers who wear their products.  Don’t screw it up.