smack suit and instruction on how to set up a tivo system

Question
QUESTION: My daughter was a level 9gymnast and just took up diving. She loves it but
wonders if there is something she could wear when learning new dives to
protect her body when she hits the water incorrectly.  We live in Sacramento
and she is planning to dive year round, when the weather gets colder is there
anythng the diver could wear to keep them relatively warm other than
hopping into the hot tub.
I also have a spare old Tivo and would like to rig up somethng for her so she
could see herself diving.  I found one reference on google I think on
springboard.com but I have the hardest understand it.

ANSWER: Julielani -

For the smack suit, which will also serve as a way to stay warm in the winter,it can be obtained by going to www.springboardsandmore.com. Click on "Diver Needs" at the top of the page and then click on the picture of smack suits. She might also try wearing a cap to protect her ears during a poor landing and this will also serve as a way to keep warmer since the heat will not escape from the head.This suit could also be purchased at a local SCUBA shop. Just make sure it has short sleeves and not full length legs.

As far as the TIVO goes, the problem you are experiencing is something that all diving coaches go through when trying to figure out how to hook it up. The techs at TIVO are of no help because the system was not designed to work that way so they do not offer any advice.I personally have not set one up so I do not know what to tell you. Maybe another expert at this website who has video technical knowledge can help you.

A friend of mine uses a Digital Video Recorder instead as it is a lot easier to set up. You have to use a DVD-RW disc and a simple camera but it is less hassle that the TIVO.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Tom that is very helpful.  The tivo set up seems very confusing and
you are right specially when it comes to hooking it up.  I was wondering if
one could use a web-cam like surveillance camera connected to a Digital
Video Recorder instead of a camcorder and tivo .  The trick is still with the
connection.  I guess I need to figure out how to send the signals from the
webcam to the recorder.  Do you have any suggestion or thought on this ?

Answer
Hi -

Here is what a coaching friend of mine does for his workouts:

He bought a DVR and a surveillance camera on E-Bay for about $100. The camera is the type used in retail stores so I do not think the webcam would work. He uses a blank DVD that you can record over which is called a rewritable disc. He sets the DVR to record over and over every 45 seconds or so. That is how long it should take to do a dive, get out of the water and then look at the dive you just did. You set the time based on how quick or slow the workout is. He took a TV and put it inside a cabinet on wheels along with the DVR. This is so he can wheel it away and store it between practices.

I do not know the technology it takes to do this. My mechanical knowledge is with the human body as opposed to what you need to do! I would suggest that you send this question to an All Experts person who knows this type of technology. Go to the home page and click on "Computing/Technology" and then click on "Home Recording". Maybe someone there can help. You could also try the field called "Gadgets" and see if someone knows the answer.

Here is a list of wesbites about diving for future reference:

www.usadiving.org
www.aaudiving.org
www.flipnrip.com
www.usadiver.com
www.divemeets.com
www.laurawilkinson.com
www.diving.about.com

Good luck.