LZR suit doesn't disappoint, and why we should use it (+ VIDEO and CARLILE's OPEN LETTER)

Speedo's LZR technology is no different from time trial technology used in major events like the Tour de France (aerobars, carbon fibre). I believe it is high time swimmers started using it. It is great for the sport. Let's face it, we live in a world where equipment is part of preparation. To ignore this (or try to prevent this) is really to lose sight of a major aspect of competing effectively in the game.



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Open Letter From Forbes Carlile
Craig Lord

In an open Letter from Forbes Carlile, the experienced Octogenarian Australian and pioneer coaching guru says his sport is being prostituted by new suit technology.

Many wish to embrace the Speedo LZR Racer, the end of a line of bodysuit technology that has seen world records tumble across the board. Everyone loves seeing world records broken but not everyone thinks that should come at any cost. Carlile has been campaigning to have the LZR and other performance-enhancing suits banned from junior swimming in Australia and would like to see them called back from senior waters, a move that is almost impossible to imagine. His moves are being resisted. The shelf-life of one suit is between six and 12 wears. An athlete could be looking at a bill of $10,000 a year in suits, unless they get them free, of course. Here is the letter from Carlile today, which highlights the divide in the swimming world:

High Level Sport Turned Into a Circus and Degrading Spectacle

[the following is in caps for no other reason than because I have no time to convert to upper and lower from Carlile's original].

'THE REPUTATION OF TOP LEVEL SWIMMING WHERE THE RESULT OF A RACE IDENTIFIES THE TALENT OF COMPETITORS IS RAPIDLY SINKING, LARGELY BEING PERDCEIVED AS DEPENDING ON EQUIPMENT, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS COMPETITION SWIM-SUITS (THE NEW GENRE OF 'FAST SUITS').

Get the rest of this letter here.

Canadian National Swimming Champs: LZR does not disappoint

MONTREAL — The much ballyhooed Speedo LZR Racer swimsuit lived up to the hype in its Canadian debut on Sunday, producing a new record for men's 400 medley relay at the CN Swimming Trials.

Canada's team knocked nearly three full seconds off the previous Canadian record of three minutes, 37.94 seconds racing in the controversial super suits credited with helping rewrite swimming record books in recent weeks.

"You feel like a race car, it's just unbelievable, it doesn't compare to anything else," said Joe Bartoch, who swam the butterfly portion of the relay.

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