Starting Block Magazine - November 2017

MAGAZINE

STARTING BLOCK

ISSUE NO. 2 NOVEMBER 2017

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TECH SUITS LEARN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHOOSING THE RIGHT TECH SUIT

CONTEST INSIDE! FIND OUT HOW TO WIN $25 FROM THE LIFEGUARD STORE, ALL AMERICAN SWIM, OR SWIM SHOPS OF THE SOUTHWEST!

CARRIE WILLOUGHBY

AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE FORMER U.S. PARALYMPIAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS p.4 WOMEN'S TECH SUITS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHOOSING A WOMEN'S TECH SUIT

p.8 CARRIE WILLOUGHBY AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE FORMER U.S. PARALYMPIAN

P.10 PRODUCT OF THE MONTH

p.12 MEN'S TECH SUITS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHOOSING A MEN'S TECH SUIT

P.16 TEAMÂ OF THE MONTH

Starting Block Magazine is used as a marketing and advertising venture published

by The Lifeguard Store, All American Swim, and Swim Shops of the Southwest

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CONTEST! WANT TO WIN $25 FROM THE LIFEGUARD STORE, ALL AMERICAN SWIM, OR SWIM SHOPS OF THE SOUTHWEST? READ BELOW TO FIND OUT HOW! SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THIS ISSUE ARE TEN THANKSGIVING THEMED SWIMMING AND LIFEGUARD CARTOONS. LIST OF THE CARTOONS BELOW:

HOW TO WIN: 1. FIND ALL TEN OF THE CARTOONS HIDDEN THROUGHOUT THIS ISSUE 2. EMAIL MARKETING@THELIFEGUARDSTORE.COM WITH THE CORRECT PAGE NUMBER OF EACH CARTOON 3. IF YOU ARE THE FIRST PERSON TO RESPOND, YOU WIN AND GET YOUR CHOICE OF WHICH STORE YOUR $25 GIFT CARD COMES FROM! EMPLOYEES AND FAMILY MEMBERS OF THE THREE COMPANIES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.

When you dive into the water, you rely on your training, strength and skill to dominate your competition. But you also rely on quality gear to support you. Learning how to choose a women’s tech suit gives you a leg up in the pool. Everything from the style and fabric to the fit and sizing affects how well the suit works for you in the pool. Check out our women’s tech suit guide to choose your ideal tech suit!

Why You Need a Tech Suit If you don’t yet have a tech suit, you might be wondering why you need one. A tech suit is an investment, but it’s one that pays off in the pool.

Think of your tech suit as another piece of equipment, like your goggles or swim cap, that helps you improve your performance. Tech suits offer many benefits, including: • Minimal drag: A tech suit is designed to reduce drag in the water. This helps you swim more efficiently, so you’re faster in the pool.

• Compression: Technical swimming suits use compression technology to improve blood flow, which helps oxygenated blood reach your muscles more efficiently. This can minimize feelings of fatigue and help you recover faster between races.

• Muscle stabilization: Another advantage of the tight fit is stabilization of your muscles.

• Repelling water: A special design feature of tech

suits is to repel water so the suit doesn’t soak it up and become heavier. This keeps you light and fast.

Styles of Women’s Tech Suits Women’s technical swimming suits come in two basic styles: a traditional one-piece style with high-cut legs and a suit with legs extending down to the knees.

These longer suits go by different names, including kneeskin, neck-to-knee and short john.

Traditional swimsuit cuts give you a full range of motion with your legs, which is a definite advantage in the water. Breaststroke kicking in particular benefits from this range of motion, which is sometimes restricted to a degree with neck-to-knee suits. The traditional style of tech suit is similar in popularity to the longer suits.

The increased surface area of neck-to-knee suits offers some advantages in the pool. More hydrodynamic fabric decreases your drag as you move through the water. Increased fabric surface also increases the amount of compression, which helps shape your body to make it more hydrodynamic.

Suit Material and Construction Considerations Tech suits are made of special material designed to repel water. This makes you more hydrodynamic in

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the water, which reduces friction for easier gliding.

Woven fabric is the most common option, as it keeps the swimsuit very thin and very strong. This allows for a lightweight, form-fitting design that minimizes drag.

Tech suits come in different fabrics, including polyester and nylon. You may find suits that blend several fabric types together to capitalize on the best features of each. A suit with a higher proportion of nylon has the greatest amount of stretch while still offering a tight fit with support, but those suits often don’t hold up as well. Suits with high proportions of polyester often resist chlorine damage better and last longer. They offer greater compression for a snug fit, but they have less stretch.

you will likely have an easier time finding a suit that fits well from top to bottom. However, if you have a larger chest compared to the rest of your body, a shorter torso relative to your height or other differences in proportions, you may have more difficulty finding a suit that fits well in all areas.

Let’s take a look at the different parts of a women’s tech suit to consider fit issues.

Shoulders: At the shoulders, it can be a challenge to find straps that fit just right. You want the straps to fit snugly so your suit stays in place, but you also want to feel some degree of comfort with a full range of movement. Straps that are too tight can also cause fatigue, since you have to work so much harder against the tension to perform each stroke. If you can’t get the straps over your shoulders or the straps cut into you uncomfortably, try a different suit.

How do you know if the suit fits your shoulder area properly? Check these areas:

The seams are another design consideration in tech suits. Newer designs use flat, bonded seams instead of traditional stitched seams. Using special adhesives or heat-bonding techniques, the suit is streamlined to allow for a smooth, snug fit that won’t drag or catch on the water. These flat, bonded seams can be particularly beneficial for sprint swimmers, since speed is so important.

Fit Tech suits intentionally fit snugly to create a streamlined profile with as little resistance as possible. Every area should feel snug, yet comfortable, without feeling like the suit is cutting into your body. A suit that’s too tight restricts movement and can cut off circulation or cause you to lose sensation. It can also contribute to fatigue. A suit that’s too loose lets in excess water, which slows you down.

Women face unique fit challenges because the suits cover so much of the upper body. This means it needs to fit in the leg area, throughout the torso and in the chest. If your body is relatively proportional,

• Compression: You should feel a slight squeezing sensation, but it shouldn’t cut into your shoulders or limit your arm movement.

• Balance: A balance between the compression in your shoulders and the compression across your chest and torso is key. The horizontal compression in those areas should be similar to the pressure you feel on your shoulders.

• Lift: An easy test on the shoulder straps is to have someone else slide two fingers under a strap and lift up. If it’s not possible to lift the strap about two inches, you may need a larger size.

Torso: Next up when it comes to fit is the torso. You want compression in the chest and stomach area, but it shouldn’t interfere with your normal breathing.

The last thing you want is to have shortness of breath during a swimming competition.

Check the armpit area to ensure there are no gaps where water can get in easily. The same gap check should happen at the front of the suit. You want a snug fit with no gaps to streamline your movements through the water.

Legs: Women’s tech suits typically cover the top

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suit that fits. Use the measurements you take to evaluate the sizing guide for the particular brand of swimming suit you buy. Here are some tips to keep in mind when taking measurements for your tech swimming suit:

portion of your leg if you choose a knee-to-neck style.

The suit should stop just above the knee. A suit that extends to the knee is likely too large. If the suit hits higher on the leg, it might restrict your leg muscles and cut off circulation, which will negatively affect your performance.

Like the rest of the suit, the legs should feel snug but not too tight. Suits that cover the legs often have grippers along the bottom inner edge to help keep the legs from moving. When you put on your suit, flip the bottom edge outward so those grippers don’t rub against your leg. This makes putting on the suit a little easier.

Keep in mind your suit will gradually stretch and loosen over time. If it doesn’t fit snugly at the time of purchase, it will always be slightly loose and may eventually become too loose to function properly.

Sizing Now that you know how the suit should fit, it’s time to talk about sizing. Measuring accurately is an important part of how to pick a women’s tech suit.

Always take fresh measurements each time you buy a new swimming suit, as your measurements may change. Never use the sizing from a fashion swimsuit as a guide, as the sizing is likely different due to the difference in cut and purpose.

A major difference in sizing for women comes in hip and chest measurements, particularly if there’s a great variation between your hips and chest. In other words, if you have larger hips and a smaller chest, you may need to go up a size to accommodate your hips. On the opposite side, if you have a larger chest and smaller hips, you may need to go down a size so your suit isn’t too large in the hip area.

Taking accurate measurements is key to choosing a

• Get help: Taking your own measurements is difficult, especially for women. Asking someone else to help ensures the tape measure stays level all the way around your body.

• Use proper tools: A soft, flexible measuring tape gives you the most accurate numbers. Don’t use a metal tape measure, as it doesn’t flex around your body or give a snug fit. If you don’t have a soft measuring tape, use a string that doesn’t stretch.

Place the string next to a tape measure to get your numbers.

• Measure on bare skin: The most accurate way to measure for a swimming suit is on bare skin. If someone is helping you, stripping down can be a little embarrassing. If you leave your clothes on, choose thin, form-fitting clothing for the least interference. Keep in mind your measurements may be a little larger due to the excess fabric during measuring.

• Keep the tape flat: For accuracy, the measuring tape should remain flat and level without any twists.

You want the tape snug, but not so tight that it indents the skin.

You can tell your suit is too large based on the following characteristics: • The suit scoops at the neck in a streamline position • You can stretch the straps to your ears • The open section of the back below the strap intersection lifts from the skin • Material wrinkles or looks baggy • A short john suit goes down to or past the knee • The suit goes on very easily with no resistance You can tell the suit is too small based on the following characteristics: • You cannot perform the full range of motion needed for swimming • It affects blood flow and/or restricts breathing • The suit causes pain • Your chest or other parts of the body seem to spill

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out of the suit • A short john suit hits higher on the leg • You struggle to get it on Expect to spend some time getting into a properly fitted tech suit. Because of the tight fit, it takes some work to get the suit on and positioned correctly. A tech suit may take longer to put on than your practice suit. Suits that won’t go on no matter how hard you work, or that take an extraordinarily long time to get on, are likely too small. Try to find a suit you can get on in under 10 minutes.

Straps We already touched on how straps should fit, which is an important consideration when evaluating your swimsuit. There are other factors to consider when it comes to the straps. The straps on tech suits are typically flat and wide. This minimizes drag while providing the required support. Wider, flatter straps also allow for more control and stay in place better than thinner straps.

The construction of the straps can also vary. Some suits use elastic in the straps to give them stretch to fit securely over the shoulders. Others have straps with little or no stretch, instead allowing the overall flexibility and stretch of the suit to allow the straps to fit snugly and properly.

Tech suits typically feature either a V or an X shape in the back. Openings in the back may vary from suit to suit. Consider the type of back and straps your practice suit has when choosing a tech suit for competition. If you’re accustomed to a particular style, finding a tech suit with the same design makes you feel more comfortable.

Tips for Choosing Your Women’s Tech Suit With the basics in mind, your choice often comes down to the details. Small differences in the fit, cost or overall style of the suit can be the deciding factor.

Keep these tips in mind if you need more help picking the right tech suit for women:

a budget is important during your selection. Set your budget before you start shopping so you can limit your search.

• Comparison shop: Going to your local swim shop can mean a limited selection. Comparison shop to explore a wider range of options. Shopping online is a simple way to compare a large number of swimming suits at once.

• Check the details: Online descriptions of suits offer specific details that help you evaluate the options. Read through the description thoroughly to determine the type of fabric, style of shoulder straps, length of the suit and other important details.

• Check for FINA approval: If you swim competitively, your tech suit must be FINA-approved.

Certain types of fabric don’t qualify. Full-body suits are also not FINA-approved.

• Test it in and out of the water: Don’t base your purchase on sizing guides alone. Trying on your swim suit is essential for getting a good fit. Note how the suit looks and feels on your body. Assume different positions you might use in the pool. Rotate your arms the way you do for different strokes. Once you make your swimsuit selection, try it in the pool before competition day. Suits feel different in the water, so it’s important to test out your tech suit ahead of time to see what kind of glide it offers and how well you can perform while wearing it.

• Trust your own judgment: Your personal preferences and the way the suit feels are two important factors in choosing a tech suit. While most tech suits use similar materials and designs, you’ll notice a difference in the way they feel due to differences in compression, stretch, specific fabric and cut.

Keeping the fit and sizing guidelines in mind helps you narrow down your options when shopping for a women’s technical swimming suit. When you’re ready to shop, check out the selection of women’s tech suits we offer at The Lifeguard Store.

We’re proud of our wide selection and assortment of styles, and our fast shipping and no-hassle returns are sure to make your online shopping experience a pleasant one!

• Set your budget: Women’s tech suits often come with a higher price tag than fashion suits, but setting

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CARRIE WILLOUGHBY CARRIE WILLOUGHBY IS A FORMER U.S. PARALYMPIC ATHLETE. SHE WAS SELECTED TO THE 2000 SYDENY PARALYMPIC TEAM. SHE WAS BORN WITH OCULOCUTANEOUS ALBINISM AND IS LEGALLY BLIND DUE TO THE CONDITION, ALTHOUGH SHE DOESN'T LET HER CONDITION SLOW HER DOWN. Starting Block Magazine: How did you begin swimming? Who got you started?

Carrie Willoughby: I got started at the community pool. I was four and my brother was six and we started in a summer league. I went to year round when I was sixteen and to two a day at nineteen.

SBM: How does your visual impairment affect your swimming?

CW: It usually affect getting to and from practice. In practice, it is learning to accommodate around your teammates and them learning about you and how to work with you.

SBM: Does your disability define you?

CW: No, it defines the process of how I go about things but it does not determine who I am.

SBM: Are people as enthusiastic about the Paralympics as they are about the Olympics?

CW: Paralympics is unique. It is not something that I can really articulate, or even show. It is something you have to be there for. You can only witness the courage and hard work by seeing it. It doesn't get much media attention but the people that do know and support it are very in awe and enthusiastic.

SBM: Describe the feeling you had being selected to the US Swim Team at the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney.

CW: I went through some difficult times in Denver. Teammates were not very supportive and I wanted to prove something to myself. I wasn't sure I made the team when I finished second in the 100 free because the standards are different. When I found out I did make the team, I was very proud. I had always competed against able bodied people and being against people in situations similar to mine was a different experience. After the hours upon hours of hard work, effort, energy, the timing was perfect.

Being able Rank to share that with my brother and parents was a very prideful and surreal emotion SBM: What would you say are the two most important things for being a successful athlete and competing in the Paralympics?

CW: Being genuine to who you are and having a partnership with your coaches while having that goal in mind. Being genuine and honest with

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others. I wish I could have shared the moment with my coach and be able to share the gratitude. There's so many people involved and being able to share that was something I wish I could have done. Being true to yourself no matter the situation is very important.

SBM: What advice would you give to a disabled person who wants to get more involved with sport/fitness?

CW: Sports and fitness allows you to see your life change. Lots of aspect will increase: courage, physical strength, happiness to name a few. With a disability, it makes dealing with real life that much easier. Confidence and strength to endure challenges, courage to do new things. SBM: What are some other things that drive you both personally and professionally?

CW: Personally, I enjoy competing with myself and helping others to improve and obtain their goals. Professionally, I am a design color consultant and enjoy helping people be creative and have an open mind about environment and their situation.

Personally and professionally, I really enjoy seeing people succeed. I consider myself a team player in every regard and really enjoy sharing my success with those who helped me achieve it.

SBM: What is something you get excited to do daily?

CW: I love the water. I love pushing myself and learning. Every day I am excited to learn and be happy.

SBM: Where do you see your future going right now, what are your plans?

CW: I am hoping to become more involved in the design realm of Home Depot. I love the company and the environment of seeing people do their best is really rewarding. I would also love to coach any sort of swim team.Â

BIOGRAPHY AND STATISTICS (COURTESY OF PARALYMPIC.ORG) Type of Impairment: Visual Impairment Residence: Atlanta, GA Occupation: Artist, Athlete Higher Education: Visual Arts - Auburn Univerity Nicknames: Carebear, Wildabeast, Squints Hobbies: Cycling, swimming, art, singing, ice skating, pilates Sporting Philosophy/Motto: "Nothing good is ever easy, noting easy ever shows how good you really can be."

Paralympic Games - Para Swimming Rank 6 8 7 7 8 4 4

Year

Event

50M Freestyle 2000 200M Medley 2000 50M Freestyle 2004 2004 100M Freestyle 2004 400M Freestyle 2004 100M Backstroke 2004 100M Butterfly

Result 30.84 3:01.87 29.96 1:05.51 5:08.12 1:15.94 1:11.02

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PRODUCT OF THE MONTH FINIS ISO PADDLES

ISO paddles are strapless paddles designed to isolate specific muscle groups, develop proper hand position and heighten stroke awareness. ISO paddles are uniquely designed to create an imbalance in the catch phase of a stroke, which forces swimmers to apply more pressure on either side of the paddle in order to maintain a proper stroke. The variance encourages swimmers to pay increased attention to hand position in th e water, keeping it level and consistent throughout the catch and pull of each stroke.

PALM POSITIVE Paddles will remain in place with proper stroke technique HEIGHTENS STROKE AWARENESS Convex design brings awareness to sweep tendencies prior to catch TECHNIQUE PADDLE Intended for use on drills and stroke-specific training RECOMMENDED STROKE ISOLATIONS Versatile tool for all four swim strokes. Outside Isolation: backstroke & freestyle Inside Isolation: breaststroke & butterfly SELF-CORRECT TECHNIQUE Increases the 'feel for the water' and allows swimmers to make adjustments to improve stroke technique OUTSIDE ISOLATION Using the edge on the outside (grey on left, yellow on right) allows swimmers to isolate and engage the triceps and trapezius muscles STRAPLESS DESIGN Ergonomic shape designed to fit the natural contour of the hand INSIDE ISOLATION Using the edge on the inside (yellow on left, grey on right) allows swimmers to isolate and engage the pectoral, bicep and deltoid muscles

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS starting block magazine | pg.10

A technical suit plays a key role in your competition performance, so knowing how to choose the best option is essential. As with most swimming gear, the fit of men’s technical swimsuits (hereby known as tech suits) often comes down to personal preference and the way you use the suit. However, understanding certain key characteristics and fit considerations can help in the decision-making process.

Check out our men’s tech suit guide to help narrow down your options.

The Benefits of a Tech Suit Before we go into how to choose a men’s tech suit, let’s talk about why you should buy one in the first place.

While you may intentionally choose a suit with drag during training to improve your strength, you don’t want anything slowing you down in competition environments. The goal of the tech suit is to minimize your drag as you move through the water, allowing for longer glides thanks to the lower water resistance. That reduced drag means you can swim faster with greater efficiency, which results in better performance in the pool.

To achieve this goal, you need a properly fitting tech suit. A suit that’s too large creates drag and

doesn’t stay in place. A suit that’s too small feels uncomfortable — and can even be painful — with the possibility of restricting your movements, cutting off your circulation and making it difficult to breathe. For these reasons, fit is perhaps the most important factor in choosing your suit.

Style of Men’s Tech Suits The jammer style of swimsuit is a very common option for men’s tech suits. This style looks like a long pair of bike shorts that stops just above the knee, but they come in special fabrics and with special design features to work well for swimming.

While the suits are tight and revealing, they do provide more coverage than brief-style suits.

Jammer-style tech suits often have silicone grippers along the bottom edge of the legs just inside the leg. These grippers keep the shorts from riding up while you wear them.

You can also find tech suits in a brief or racer style.

As the name suggests, these swimsuits look like men’s briefs, but are very snug. Because there is minimal material on this style of tech swimming suit, they allow for a full range of motion. They also minimize drag.

The styling of tech suits uses compression to shape your body to become more hydrodynamic. In the case of men’s suits, they shape your legs so they

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glide through the water easily without creating more resistance. Whether you choose jammers, briefs or racers, the suit works for actual competitions or for fitness swimming.

If you swim outdoors, look for a suit designed for outdoor use. These suits often have a higher UV rating to withstand the effects of the sun.

Another consideration in the construction is the type of seams on the suit. You can choose between bonded and stitched seams. Some tech suits use bonding agents or special adhesives instead of stitching the seams together. This bonding process reduces drag by creating a flatter fit that’s better able to conform to your body. Look for these bonded seams if performance is crucial, but expect to pay more for this type of seam.

Another design feature to consider is a drawstring waist. You may think the tight fit is enough to keep the suit in place, but it’s still a good idea to choose a swimsuit with a drawstring waist. This is particularly important if you do a lot of pushing off the wall for longer-distance swims. The added security of the drawstring lets you tighten the waist so you don’t lose your bottoms on all those turns.

Material and Construction Tech suits come in a very specific type of material to maximize performance. The fabric typically features woven construction. This allows the fabric to be very thin without sacrificing strength, and makes the suit lightweight and form-fitting, yet still durable enough for you to tug and pull into place.

The fabric is specifically designed to repel water and prevent the suit from becoming heavy and sopping wet as soon as you jump in the pool.

Most suits are either primarily polyester or nylon, although they typically include a blend of fabrics to maximize performance. Primarily polyester suits have a tight fit with greater compression and less stretch. These suits typically hold up better with a greater resistance to chlorine. Don’t buy a larger size just because the polyester is less stretchy — you want a snug fit. However, if you’re between sizes, you may want to go up for a good fit.

Primarily nylon suits still have a snug and supportive design, but they have more stretch to them. Nylon suits may not hold up as well as a polyester suit, which means you can expect to replace them a little more often.

Finding the Perfect Fit A proper fit keeps the swimsuit in place without letting excess water inside the suit. While you want the suit quite snug, you don’t want to be completely uncomfortable in the water. A suit that’s too small can cause other problems, including distracting you with the discomfort. If the suit cuts off your circulation, it’s too tight.

A good comparison is a pair of comfy socks. It should fit snugly and stay in place without creating a pinching feeling. A sausage casing is another good reference — it should keep everything inside and held in place. Your muscles should feel like they’re being held in place while still having the freedom to move as required to complete your swimming strokes.

This same fit should occur from top to bottom. You don’t want a loose fit anywhere along the suit. And since men’s suits only cover the lower part of the body, you don’t need to worry about the fit around the torso.

When it comes to length, you want the suit to hit just above the knees. Aim for about one inch above the knee. If the bottom edge reaches your knees,

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you may need a smaller suit. If the suit hits higher than one inch above the knee, you may need a larger suit, as a leg cut that hits too high can be uncomfortable and distracting.

However, keep in mind that waist fit is more important than the length.

Another place to check is the rear of the suit. It should fully cover your backside. If it doesn’t, look for either a larger suit or one with a higher cut. The suit shouldn’t go over your navel, but otherwise it’s okay to go a little higher to get the coverage you need.

A special consideration for men is how the suit fits in the crotch area. This is where the inseam comes into play. As with the rest of the suit, you want the crotch area to fit snugly to minimize drag and to feel supportive, but you don’t want it so snug that you can’t properly move your legs and hips.

• Extreme difficulty getting the suit on Keep in mind that it should take some effort to put on a properly fitting tech suit. If it slips on too easily, the suit is likely too large. Expect to take a while to get the suit on and adjusted properly.

However, if it takes extreme effort or an exceptionally long time to get the suit on, you may need to go up a size.

Sizing the Suit Correctly Proper sizing is an essential component of a proper fit. Measuring your body before purchasing is the most accurate way to determine sizing for your tech suit. Don’t base your size on your normal pants size or previous swimming suit sizes. Fashion swimwear often fits differently and doesn’t have the same cut and fit as a tech suit. Suits also tend to stretch out, so your old suit may seem too large, but is actually just stretched out.

Men in particular need to measure instead of ordering a tech suit based on pants size. The sizing on pants is often different based on the style or fit, and may not be accurate for technical swimwear.

You can check the fit by trying it on and looking for signs of improper sizing. A suit that’s too large shows the following signs: • Wrinkles in the fabric • Bagginess • You can easily slide two fingers under the fabric • Legs hit at the knee • The suit slips on easily with little effort Suits that are too small show the following signs: • Restricted leg movement that interferes with your swimming kicks • Painful to wear • The sense that it cuts off blood flow or affects your breathing • A “muffin top” effect along the waistband of the suit, causing your body to spill over the top • Legs hit more than one inch above the knee

When picking the right tech suit for men, take the waist measurements one inch below the navel.

That measurement determines the suit size you should wear. A 34-inch waist measurement means you need a size 34 tech swimming suit.

Here are some additional tips for measuring accurately: • Use a flexible and soft measuring tape for accuracy — not a metal tape measure.

• Use a flexible string if you don’t have a soft measuring tape on hand. Hold the string up to a tape measure for accuracy.

• Measure over bare skin, not over clothing, when possible. If you must measure over clothing, take into account that the clothing adds to the measurement.

• Ask someone else to take the measurements to ensure accuracy. It’s difficult to tell if you have the measuring tape flat and level when you measure yourself.

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• Ensure the tape is flat without twists in it, to avoid adding excess length to the measurement.

• Hold the tape firmly against the skin without pulling it tight. If you pull the tape so tight it causes indentations, you aren’t getting an accurate measurement.

Men have a much easier time measuring for a technical swimming suit, since the waist measurement is really the only one you need to take. However, you still need to take the measurements carefully to ensure accuracy.

Tips for Choosing Your Tech Suit With the basics in mind, your selection of a men’s tech suit often comes down to the details. Use these tips as a guide for narrowing down your tech suit options: • Set a budget: You don’t want to skimp on a cheap tech suit, but you do need to stick to a budget. Decide how much you want to spend on your new suit. Narrow down your search options based on that budget. Fit is much more important than how much you spend. You may find that a $200 suit fits much more comfortably than a $500 suit anyway, so don’t feel like you have to spend more to get a good suit.

• Forget modesty: As we’ve already covered, men’s tech suits fit snugly to reduce drag. That means there’s little left to the imagination, even if you choose the longer jammer style. Accept that tech suits don’t afford much modesty. It makes shopping much easier.

• Shop online: Shopping for tech suits online lets you easily compare the options and search by certain criteria to find your perfect suit.

• Review the details: Check out the information provided for each swimming suit to see if it matches your needs. Some suits are designed for particular types of swimmers, for example. Others are designed for greater resistance to certain factors, such as the sun or chlorine, for longevity.

When shopping online, thoroughly read the product details to determine if the suit has the special features that meet your needs.

• Try it on: You won’t know how a suit fits for sure until you try it on. If you buy online, ensure you

choose a retailer that allows returns.

• Evaluate the fit: The sizing charts from swimsuit manufacturers and your measurements help guide your selection, but it really comes down to how it feels while you’re wearing it. Don’t rely solely on those sizing guides to choose your suit.

• Test different positions: One way to test the fit of the suit is to recreate different motions and positions you use in the pool while you try on the suit. Try moving your arms the way you do for various strokes. Assume your starting position.

Check the fit in those various positions.

• Try it in the water: Don’t wait until a competition to try out your new tech suit. You won’t know how well the suit glides through the water or lets you perform your strokes until you hit the pool. When testing out the suit, try all of the possible strokes you’ll use to ensure you can perform each of them without interference. Another way to test the suit is to dive into the water and let yourself glide in a streamline position until you naturally stop. A suit that fits well makes you feel like you’re continuing to glide through the water without additional force.

Browse Your Options at The Lifeguard Store!

Now that you know how to pick a men’s tech suit, put your newfound skills to the test with our selection of tech suits. We offer a wide range of suit styles to fit your needs and preferences. Our low prices let you get a high-quality tech suit that stays within your budget. Plus, we offer no-hassle returns if you decide the tech suit you order isn’t a good fit.

Start shopping now to improve your performance in the water!

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TEAM OF THE MONTH CHATTAHOOCHEE GOLD WOODSTOCK, GA Gold Swim Team and Pre-competitive Track Chattahoochee Gold offers both a precompetitive track and USA competition training. The two pre-competitive groups are called Intro, and Technique/Fitness.

Intro classes swim either once or twice a week for 45 minutes are cover the fundamentals of the four strokes, starts, and turns. Technique/Fitness classes cover the fundamentals as well, and gradually increase the amount of yardage to develop the swimmer's strength and endurance.

Technique/Fitness classes that swim twice a week are called Tech/Fitness League.

Pat and Beth Murphy started Chattahoochee Gold Swimming in 1982 as a year round USA swim club north of Atlanta.

Gold Swimming operates out of four sites one of which they own. The Murphy’s helped to ignite the coach-owned swim team movement and have happy helped other coaches in the same pursuit. The team currently has 760 swimmers and has produced state, regional, and national champions. Gold Swimming is one of the first teams in the nation to be awarded level 4 status, an honor reserved for the most forward-thinking and organized teams

starting block magazine | pg.23

COACHING STAFF PAT MURPHY - Senior Coach BETH MURPHY - Woodstock Head Coach MIKE WARDWELL - Senior Coach / Mt. View Head Coach MARK SCHILLING - Senior Coach / Cherokee Head Coach ANDY EATON - Senior Coach / Cumming Head Coach KAREN CARR - Age Group Coach RYAN L'ROY - Age Group Coach LUKE OSGOOD - Age Group Coach AUSTIN SUMRALL - Age Group Coach KADEE WHIPPLE - Age Group Coach KATIE YEARGIN - Age Group Coach Part Time Coaches: Penny Walleshauser, Micah Lawrence Sumrall, Amy Mierzejewski, Cassie Laegen, Jasmine Green, Gabe Brisuda, Allison Kryszon, Andrea Hill, Amy Fetcinko, Kristin Cummins, Sarah Winograd, Morgan Johnson

UPCOMING EVENTS SHORT COURSE MEET SCHEDULE November 3 - 5 - Beach Bash - Greenville, SC November 11 - Pre-Comp Meet #1 - Cherokee, GA December 6 - 9 - Junior Nationals - Knoxville, TN December 8 - 10 - Senior State - Georgia Tech December 15 - 17 - Gold Winter Invite - Cumming, GA

CONNECT WITH GOLD!

www.GoldSwim.com

starting block magazine | pg.17

CON NECT www.TheLifeguardStore.com

www.AllAmericanSwim.com

www.SwimShops.com