Under Armour speedsuits blamed for poor US speedskating performances

It's gotta be the speedsuit! wrote:

Really pretty funny. Under Armour and Lockheed Martin hype these speedsuits but now the skaters say they are slowing them down.

http://www.startribune.com/world/245507121.html

It would be more honest to say that it was all hype to begin with.

"These guys make F-16 fighter jets. If they can invade Afghanistan and Iraq, they can build a speedskating suit."

Riiiight.

It reminds me of the Nike onesies that some of the sprinters and hurdlers wore Moscow. They looked like they were competing in red longjohns and they weren't any faster than if they had bare arms and legs.

Maybe this stuff makes a difference in water but I'd like to see some proof that it matters to runners or skaters.

You're probably right, I think aerodynamics are not important. More than likely it's all made up by scientists.

Are the skiers wearing these suits as well?

There are literally no facts in that article that suggest the speed suits are to blame for their performances. Zero. Great journalism.

"A bad workman always blames his tools."

The skiers (Nordic, jumpers, aerials, alpine) are all wearing different brands of suits. Every sport is wearing the brand that they usually do in the regular season. Under Armor happens to do speedskating and went a little overboard.

Also, the long track athletes are covering a 5k in 6:10-6:20. I can completely understand that wind drag is a factor in the 500m-10km range.

Most Interesting Coach ITW wrote:You're probably right, I think aerodynamics are not important. More than likely it's all made up by scientists.

Aerodynamics obviously make a difference if you are moving at Formula 1 speeds, but have "scientists" found that the Under Armour speedsuits will make the same speedskater faster? I see no proof in the story.

Personally, I know nothing about speedskating. Maybe a speedsuit can make a difference. However, I'd like to see proof one way or the other instead of hype beforehand and making excuses afterwards.

With any running event, I'd also like to see actual proof that that a speedsuit can reduce drag sufficiently over bare skin to result in a net increase in speed. I'm pretty sure it can't, but if there's proof I'd love to hear about it.

Until then, I'm guessing its all hype.

They need Edna Mode!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M68ndaZSKa8

Real Americans are just not interested in sports more than ten years old - all our talented speedskaters have moved on to Slope Style.

A good workman never blames his tools.

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The above is from data gathered on runners. The trade offs are comfort and also heat---speed suits tend to be hot.

I was able to watch Nike speed suits being tested leading up to the 2002 Games and also Nike speed suits for cycling leading up to 2000. There was a measurable difference in drag in the wind tunnel at the speeds of the skaters and cyclists. Fabric choices make a difference including the placement of fabrics.

The Dutch looked at some of the technologies and found that they were actually detrimental to performance. I think the Dutch know a little about this area.

I would like to make it clear that Shani Davis did not blame his suit for losses. He's a solid athlete and knows when he is and isn't on his game.

It's gotta be the speedsuit! wrote:

Most Interesting Coach ITW wrote:You're probably right, I think aerodynamics are not important. More than likely it's all made up by scientists.

Aerodynamics obviously make a difference if you are moving at Formula 1 speeds, but have "scientists" found that the Under Armour speedsuits will make the same speedskater faster? I see no proof in the story.

Personally, I know nothing about speedskating. Maybe a speedsuit can make a difference. However, I'd like to see proof one way or the other instead of hype beforehand and making excuses afterwards.

With any running event, I'd also like to see actual proof that that a speedsuit can reduce drag sufficiently over bare skin to result in a net increase in speed. I'm pretty sure it can't, but if there's proof I'd love to hear about it.

Until then, I'm guessing its all hype.

As long as you need to rely on others to spoonfeed you information, you are going to be "guessing" as to whether or not it's hype.

It's gotta be the speedsuit! wrote:

Personally, I know nothing about speedskating.

You should have stopped right there.

It's because of the crotch circles. They are embarrassed to be standing on TV with a big circle drawing attention to their crotch, and they can't concentrate on racing.

The Europeans are more used to weird outfits so it doesn't bother them.

When moving at 30-35 mph do you not think aerodynamics come into play for tenths or hundredths of a second? Absolutely!

The same is for the 100. Though I laugh when a sprinter is in a speed suit but has a big gold chain or long hair flapping in the wind. Truth is there are much more important thing in play here but when gold and silver is 0.01 apart it counts.

It's gotta be the speedsuit! wrote:

As usual, I'm guessing...

An average workman blames his tools only periodically.

Look like queer, perform like queer