Anonymous
10/03/2023 09:57
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.
I ran track in HS and when my coach suggested I get spikes, I told him, no, I'm too slow for that. And he gently but firmly told me that I worked hard, I was a runner, and I deserved good equipment. This is no different. What matters is the effort and the seriousness with which a kid trains. If they're working hard and putting the time in, that's more than good enough.
Anonymous
10/03/2023 07:35
Subject: Re:Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
I would buy the lower end Arena version.
Anonymous
10/03/2023 06:31
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Can you afford it? Does kid want it enough that they ask for it as a top Christmas gift, etc? Are they really dedicated to swimming?
In those cases, I’d do it. One of my kids is getting a baseball bat for Christmas - both about the same price. The other, an on sale tech suit. He’s in an advanced training group now and 100% of kids have one but I would consider it for a lower group if it was highly desired and the dedication was there.
In those cases, I’d do it. One of my kids is getting a baseball bat for Christmas - both about the same price. The other, an on sale tech suit. He’s in an advanced training group now and 100% of kids have one but I would consider it for a lower group if it was highly desired and the dedication was there.
Anonymous
10/03/2023 06:07
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
I would not spend the money on a tech suit unless your kid is making championship meets and likely to final. Otherwise, just buy. High quality suit for racing.
Anonymous
10/03/2023 05:59
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is your kid's primary sport Swimming, if so, you should make sure that they have the proper equipment. At 13 most swimmers are wearing tech suits when they race. A parent told me this once and it made sense to me. Let your kid pick the suit that they think works best for their events and bodies and tell them you will get them one per season, so they need to take care of it and not ruin it. It is part of the cost of being a club swimmer.
A $400 suit every season... no way.
The equipment for other sports is equally, if not more, expensive. For swimmers, especially the top level ones, a tech suit is part of their equipment.
I swam competitively then as a masters before tech suits. A lot of triathletes who weren't necessarily great swimmers used to spend a fortune on cycling gear and running shoes. It used to frustrate them that the only thing they could do for swimming was to train harder. Now swimming can join the ranks of cycling with expensive equipment.
Anonymous
10/03/2023 05:17
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Most sports come with costs - even a top level x country runner will burn through several over-$100 shoes in the span of a short season. Hockey is mind-bogglingly expensive and lax isn’t cheap either
For a tech suit, the level of commitment and performance are key factors (IMO). My kid swims national meets so I’m not going to send them in a Funkita lol
That said I buy at outlets and sales when I can. Usually can find some under $400
For a tech suit, the level of commitment and performance are key factors (IMO). My kid swims national meets so I’m not going to send them in a Funkita lol
That said I buy at outlets and sales when I can. Usually can find some under $400
Anonymous
10/02/2023 20:59
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is your kid's primary sport Swimming, if so, you should make sure that they have the proper equipment. At 13 most swimmers are wearing tech suits when they race. A parent told me this once and it made sense to me. Let your kid pick the suit that they think works best for their events and bodies and tell them you will get them one per season, so they need to take care of it and not ruin it. It is part of the cost of being a club swimmer.
A $400 suit every season... no way.
The equipment for other sports is equally, if not more, expensive. For swimmers, especially the top level ones, a tech suit is part of their equipment.
Anonymous
10/02/2023 20:55
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.
I think a lot of kids do this because their teammates are. It starts with the 12U suits, and once the fast kids get them for champs meets and other meets with qualifying times the other kids inevitably follow, even if they are not champs level swimmers. And what are you going to say to that kid, you’re not fast enough to wear that suit?
And who even notices if a kid is “fast enough”? DCs club only allows tech suits at championship format meets, where the majority of kids are wearing them regardless of whether they’re swimming qualifying times or not. I’m watching my kid or reading a book. I have no idea if some other kid is wearing an expensive suit while placing dead last in their event. And even if I did happen to notice, why shouldn’t that kid swim in whatever they want (within the rules of course)? Their suit choice is none of my business.
I’m the PP you’re responding to, and to be clear, I was responding to a poster that said it was ridiculous to see kids wearing tech suits who aren’t close to haviing any type of qualifying times.
Anonymous
10/02/2023 20:37
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.
I think a lot of kids do this because their teammates are. It starts with the 12U suits, and once the fast kids get them for champs meets and other meets with qualifying times the other kids inevitably follow, even if they are not champs level swimmers. And what are you going to say to that kid, you’re not fast enough to wear that suit?
And who even notices if a kid is “fast enough”? DCs club only allows tech suits at championship format meets, where the majority of kids are wearing them regardless of whether they’re swimming qualifying times or not. I’m watching my kid or reading a book. I have no idea if some other kid is wearing an expensive suit while placing dead last in their event. And even if I did happen to notice, why shouldn’t that kid swim in whatever they want (within the rules of course)? Their suit choice is none of my business.
Anonymous
10/02/2023 20:32
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is your kid's primary sport Swimming, if so, you should make sure that they have the proper equipment. At 13 most swimmers are wearing tech suits when they race. A parent told me this once and it made sense to me. Let your kid pick the suit that they think works best for their events and bodies and tell them you will get them one per season, so they need to take care of it and not ruin it. It is part of the cost of being a club swimmer.
A $400 suit every season... no way.
PP- I have one swimmer and they ended up swimming in college. I spent probably spent 5K in tech suits from 13-18 ( now they get them as part of their team). I don’t regret it at all.
Anonymous
10/02/2023 20:31
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is your kid's primary sport Swimming, if so, you should make sure that they have the proper equipment. At 13 most swimmers are wearing tech suits when they race. A parent told me this once and it made sense to me. Let your kid pick the suit that they think works best for their events and bodies and tell them you will get them one per season, so they need to take care of it and not ruin it. It is part of the cost of being a club swimmer.
A $400 suit every season... no way.
PP- I have one swimmer and they ended up swimming in college. I bought probably 5k in practice suits from 13-18 ( now they get them as part of their team). I don’t regret it at all.
Yea for you. You must have a lot of money to burn. I don't plan on mine swimming in college so that money is better off in their college fund.
Anonymous
10/02/2023 20:31
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Is your kid's primary sport Swimming, if so, you should make sure that they have the proper equipment. At 13 most swimmers are wearing tech suits when they race. A parent told me this once and it made sense to me. Let your kid pick the suit that they think works best for their events and bodies and tell them you will get them one per season, so they need to take care of it and not ruin it. It is part of the cost of being a club swimmer.
A $400 suit every season... no way.
PP- I have one swimmer and they ended up swimming in college. I bought probably 5k in practice suits from 13-18 ( now they get them as part of their team). I don’t regret it at all.
Anonymous
10/02/2023 19:53
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Is your kid's primary sport Swimming, if so, you should make sure that they have the proper equipment. At 13 most swimmers are wearing tech suits when they race. A parent told me this once and it made sense to me. Let your kid pick the suit that they think works best for their events and bodies and tell them you will get them one per season, so they need to take care of it and not ruin it. It is part of the cost of being a club swimmer.
A $400 suit every season... no way.
Anonymous
10/02/2023 19:50
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.
I think a lot of kids do this because their teammates are. It starts with the 12U suits, and once the fast kids get them for champs meets and other meets with qualifying times the other kids inevitably follow, even if they are not champs level swimmers. And what are you going to say to that kid, you’re not fast enough to wear that suit?
Anonymous
10/02/2023 18:31
Subject: Would you buy your 13 year old a 13 and up tech suit?
Anonymous wrote:Personally I find it ridiculous when a kid is not getting qualifying times and wearing a tech suit at an Open meet. The kid would be better off focusing on practice.
Agreed. The benefit they convey goes along a taper. A tech suit for a random early season meet looks goofy.