FINA Proposes Rules Against Rocket Skin

Marcin attended the manufacturer's meeting in Switzerland this past Friday to hear FINA's proposed rules and regulations regarding the use of the newest generations of swim skins.

First I'll let you read in full the statement made by FINA, then my comments.


"FINA, represented by its Executive and Technical Swimming Commission, Legal, Coaches and Athletes Commissions’ representatives, held today a meeting in Lausanne (SUI) with representatives of 16 swimwear manufacturers in order to examine amendments of the current ‘FINA Requirements for Swimwear Approval’. Based on FINA's proposals and contributions discussed at the meeting, the FINA Bureau at its meeting on March 12-14, 2009 in Dubai (UAE) will consider amendments which include:

• DESIGN: The swimsuit shall not cover the neck and shall not extend past the shoulders nor past the ankles;

• MATERIAL: The material used shall have a maximum thickness of 1mm; When used, the material shall follow the body shape; The application of different materials shall not create air trapping effects;

• BUOYANCY: The swimsuit shall not have a buoyancy effect of more than 1 Newton (100gr);

• CONSTRUCTION: Any system providing external stimulation or influence of any form (e.g. pain reduction, chemical/medical substance release, electro-stimulation) is prohibited;

• CUSTOMISATION: All swimsuits of an approved model must be constructed in an identical fashion with no variation/modification for individual swimmers from the samples submitted for approval;

• USE: The swimmer can only wear one swimsuit at a time;

• CONTROL: FINA will establish its own independent control/testing programme. Scientific testing will be conducted by a team led by Prof. Jan-Anders Manson, from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) and Laboratory of Polymer and Composite Technology;

• APPROVAL: Swimwear manufacturers will be able to make submissions for approval of swimsuits until March 31, 2009. In a further step, rules applicable from January 1, 2010 will also be examined by the Bureau.One of the main aspects to be considered is the limitation of the use of non-permeable material. “FINA has studied this matter very carefully, and together with all interested parties and the scientific expertise of EPFL, we have reached the best possible result. "With these amendments, FINA shows that it continues to monitor the evolution of the sport’s equipment with the main objective of keeping the integrity of sport. While we need to remain open to evolution, the most important factors must be the athletes’ preparation and physical condition on achieving their performances”, considered FINA President Mustapha Larfaoui."

First an overview of our products and their legality as it is currently stated.

Long sleeve Rocket Skin: Newly proposed restriction would change this suits standing to "illegal" due to the swimsuit's extension beyond the shoulder (long sleeves). Final decision on this will take place by March 14th at FINA's next meeting in Dubai. Sources say that could mean the suit's legality would be retracted by July 18th, which is the beginning of the world championships in Rome.

There are a couple issues we have with the statements made by FINA pertaining to this permeability and buoyancy mention.

1. Try this, go and get a cotton wash cloth. Fill up a sink and get the wash cloth wet. Then gather all the edges of the cloth together, making a balloon shape and dunk it in the water. Does the cotton wash cloth not "trap air"? Try other materials. What material won't "trap" air? I would ask FINA to clarify this using scientific calculations.

2. What amount of air needs to be trapped (a variable depeding on each person's weight) to give a buoyancy advantage?

3. Where does the air need to be trapped in order to give a buoyancy advantage? Certainly pockets of air trapped between the shoulders would have little or no effect on performance compared to air pockets in front of the thighs. How reasonable is it to trap enough air on the front of the thigh to really give a performance benefit?

FINA has stated their commitment to finding scientifically factual methods to fairly rule for or against future technologies. Our resident rocket scientist Marcin Sochacki is willing to be an expert witness on behalf of all swim manufactures in order to make sure that all calculations and questions are thoroughly seen through.

Marcin Sochacki, CEO and chief designer of Rocket Science Sports® as well as aerospace engineer commented, “Our company has pushed the edge of technology and perhaps designed a suit that is ahead of its time. The swimsuit complies with all the proposed regulations including buoyancy and thickness except for the length of the sleeve. I do not see this as a set back but proof that our company walks on the razor’s edge in pursuit of technology and innovation. We have a sleeveless version that we look forward to seeing on swimmers in Rome.”

Mr. Sochacki further commented, “We are pleased with FINA’s decision to pursue scientific methods of determining future rules and provide imperialistic quantifications to support their tests. We both support and believe these methods are the only way a governing organization such as FINA can fairly rule for or against any proposed technology or garment.”

The long sleeve rocket Skin(TM) will continue to be manufactured and sold for use in non-FINA governed swim competitions as well as non-wetsuit legal triathlons and is USAT certified. Rocket Science Sports® will continue developing a full line of swimsuits for competition and training which will comply with all FINA regulations.