Here is a link to media PDF from the TYR site with info regarding the suit: [Link]If you are in hurry, this press release from the EarthTimes had this to say: "...TYR is the second-largest performance swimwear company in North America and has a brand presence in more than 80 countries. Over the last decade, TYR has pioneered technical swimsuit developments through research at International Center for Aquatic Research (ICAR, U.S. Olympic Training Center), the University of Buffalo's Center for Research and Development in Special Environments (CRESE) and conducted fabric validation testing by Bureau Veritas, an independent product performance agency. TYR was the first company to decompose the components of overall total drag in racing swimsuits into three elements: form drag, pressure drag and wave drag.
Tracer Rise utilizes Rapid Boundary Technology, the fusion of a non-permeable, polyurethane micro-coating to a proprietary lightweight water repellent woven fabric assisting the swimmer in a higher body position in the water and drag reduction.
This latest TYR technical swimsuit offers muscle contour seaming, designed to limit muscle undulation and maximize oxygen efficiency to the swimmer's core muscles. Hydrophobic properties provide maximum water repellency to eliminate absorption and restrict air trapping during high velocity strokes. Constructed from the strongest micro-fiber available for performance swimsuits, Tracer Rise offers athletic performance benefits to the competitor by providing high tensile strength flat seams that aid compression and muscle contouring essential for streamlining the swimmer's body through the water. ..." [Link]
4 comments:
What does this mean for the tracer light??? I mean TYR just released it. Reading on TYR's news and events it says that FINA approved the technology for the Rise on jan. 30th. After reading the article i remember google-ing the Tracer Rise but nothing came up so i just dismissed it. Looking at the news and events now it appears that the Rise has been used in several big meets like the All American Invitation (March 2008), and Missouri Grand Prix (February 2008), and it just "flew under the radar" but now seeing that TYR released (or should i say previewing) the Tracer Rise i'm curious to know what's the difference between the Tracer Light and Tracer Rise?? Will the Rise make the Light obsolete, or will the two suits be used for different races?? What's the deal??
Suit details are like reading tea leaves. Who knew that the 'Speedo LZR' may be less effective after just three swims until Liesel Jones opened her pie-hole and used it as a reason for being a second slower than usual? (See my recent post linking to a Nicole Jeffrey article in the Asutralian.)
If the LZR is that fragile at $550 dollars a suit, then the Speddo Fastskin Pro would probably be a better answer.
As for the TYR Tracer Rise versus the TYR Tracer Light: I would have bought a "TYR T-Light" but it wasn't available. If I did and then the "T-Rise" made its appearance and as promised ewas demonstrably faster and has just as long a shelf life as a "T-Light." I would be very angry too.
Perhaps the 'Rise' is just as fragile as the LZR though I do doubt that since no one wearing a "TYR T-Rise" has complained like Speedo LZR wearing, Liesel Jones, did after her LZR took in water after just three races. (Swimmers that lose certainly have an opportunity to list reasons and a faulty TYR has never been mentioned.)
After wearing a Nike Hydra Speedsuit this weekend and doing fairly well in it, I suggest picking a suit that fits best, and can guarantee some sort of shelf life versus watching what the mercenaries are wearing.
TYR had RISE in planning stages but when SPEEDO got approval for LZR from FINA, they put it into use. The question is whether the Tracer is as good as Rise. No, but it is designed for a different level of swimmer. Just as the LZR is comparable to FS-PRO for different level swimmers. Can you see a high school swimmer in a LZR or RISE? Most likely no. Unless mom & dad spoil the kid. Maybe age group national swimmers but they are a bit different.
Someone has got to put some swimmers with varying degrees of ability and test these suits!
Perhaps a low skilled swimmer would see a negligible improvement, perhaps none.
A master swimmer, perhaps fractions of a second, perhaps a whole second depending on their weight and ability.
A pro like Larsen Jensen in the Olympics? fractions of second or a .10 of a second?
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