US Speed Skating - Under Armor Suit

[jyl]

Interesting controversy around the Under Armor-made skinsuits being worn by the US Speed Skating team as they disappoint in every race so far in Sochi. See WSJ story below, and a bad picture of the "back vent" being discussed, as well a picture of the aero position that speed skaters use.

I'm curious if folks here who know aerodynamics have any reactions.




http://media.jrn.com/images/660*450/ap-sochi-olympics-speedskating-men.jpg



Sochi Olympics: Under Armour Suits May Be a Factor in U.S. Speedskating's Struggles - WSJ.com

These suits—designed by apparel sponsor Under Armour UA -1.11% and billed before the Games as a competitive advantage—have a design flaw that may be slowing down skaters, according to three people familiar with the U.S. team.

Vents on back of the suit, designed to allow heat to escape, are also allowing air to enter and create drag that keeps skaters from staying in the low position they need to achieve maximum speed, these people said. One skater said team members felt they were fighting the suit to maintain correct form.

Several skaters, including Heather Richardson, ranked No. 1 in the 1,000 meters, sent their suits to an Under Armour seamstress Thursday to have the panel modified with an extra piece of rubber. After the alteration, Ms. Richardson finished seventh—more than a second slower than the winner.

As of Thursday night, no American has finished better than seventh place in any of the six long-track speedskating events held so far. Another six long-track events remain. In the 2010 Vancouver Games, the U.S. won four medals in speedskating.

Bert van der Tuuk, the designer of the Dutch Olympic team's suits, said Thursday he had tried a similar ventilation panel on the back of a prototype three years ago, but it slowed his skaters by letting in air and creating drag. "The suit was blowing itself up," he said.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/olympics/chi-us-olympic-speedskating-suits-20140214,0,2696239.story

The suit unveiled for Sochi was not used in competition prior to the Games. Skaters didn’t see the finished product until after making the Olympic team in the U.S. trials in December.

[sc_rufctr]

Ditch them now!

[Head416]

How can an Olympic team show up for competition without testing their equipment first?

Drug issues aside, I remember watching a documentary where they had Lance Armstrong in a wind tunnel analyzing the best position for his thumbs to minimize wind resistance.

[porsche4life]

I know it's a redneck fix, but id be sticking duct tape over that damn vent!

[jyl]

Seems like they didn't race in the suits before Sochi, doesn't say anything about how much time training they had. Under Armor made the previous suits too. I read that Sochi was supposed to be the big unveiling of the new suit.

What I was wondering about is placing a vent in that location. I would have thought you'd want smooth airflow over the upper back? Leave vents where the air is dirty? Just asking.

[biosurfer1]

I find it hard to believe Under Armour didn't test it extensively before providing them. I can understand the athletes not trying them out more since most of the skaters have normal day jobs and not a ton of spare time and thus rely on companies like UA to provide the best. Under Armour has everything to lose here, the bad press will be around for months now.

[Aragorn]

I would think a better design would be a overlapping exhaust type shell that let the heat out but kept the air from getting in and causing drag.

Using a suit design to gain an advantage goes back to the gains made by the Olympic swim teams.

Swimming

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

Under Armour has everything to lose here, the bad press will be around for months now.

I know, right? I'll certainly be buying my speed skating suit from someone else now!

How fast do these guys go any way?

[hardflex]

I'm sure the turbulence from being too far behind has more to do with it....

[intakexhaust]

Hunchback skaters need a performance advantage? All of a sudden they show up to their most important event and they risk an untested suit? Couldn't they just wear the old suits?

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by intakexhaust

Hunchback skaters need a performance advantage? All of a sudden they show up to their most important event and they risk an untested suit? Couldn't they just wear the old suits?

Probably didn't bother to pack 'em.

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by VaSteve

How fast do these guys go any way?

They were showing speeds around 35mph the other night while I was watching.

[Bill Douglas]

And the Russians arn't terribly into naked, so they might have to stick to wearing the suits.

[widgeon13]

just another lame excuse for not getting the job done.

[jcommin]

widgeon13, I agree.

I was listening to a local Chicago sports radio station and their comments were the same. The only things the Americans seem to be good at are the X games that were included over the last couple of Olympics. Give the rest of the world time and they will catch up too.

[futuresoptions]

Maybe nude is the way to go... that and a little Vaseline to prevent wind burn

[biosurfer1]

They do have the old suits with them (actually have 3 different ones) and ESPN is reporting athletes are asking the IOC to approve using the old suits in the final 6 events. They are also reporting the new suits were not used because the US team liked them so much, they didn't want to debut them until the Olympics so other teams didn't had time to copy them

If the US wins any medals in the last events after switching to the old suits, I'd say that would be the last time those suits are ever seen.

[lane912]

- yet another reason that Under Armor is not the number one sportswear company -

[Peterfrans]

It's conplete panic, we are having a good laugh about it.

[74-911]

Armour should have used NACA ducts...