Skin problem - Page 2

In article <vv17ef27rpqv2d@corp.supernews.com>, nflgod@volcanomail.com says...
> He told us he has neither a good team nor coach. When I asked why shave, besides to look like a
> cool swimmer, his response was to say I knew nothing and to ask "real swimmers."
>
> Maybe I deal with far too many high school poseurs who think that looking like something makes
> them that thing...and shaving when it causes problems is basically a waste of time. Long hair and
> tats don't make them rock and roll stars, and shaving and a speedo don't make them swimmers,
> either...
>
> I see kids at meets shaving heads, etc, where it is a team camaraderie thing...and while I may
> smile at the goofiness, it's a team thing. OP wasn't talking about it as a team thing, and it's
> effect on his times will be non-existent, so I'm left to believe it's a "look at me, I'm a 'real
> swimmer'" thing. Ick.

Thanks for elaborating, I can see where you're coming from - it's just that your opening salvo
assumed the worst and was pretty prevocative, although I could be overreacting to something that was
intended to be more tongue in cheek that I percieved it to be.

Interesting how things have come along - back in my high school shaving down days, we did so at the
risk of getting beaten up (even though our team was on something like a 10 year unbeaten streak.)
Now that it's "cool" it probably wouldn't be so appealing to me. :-)

- Al

"Count Scrofula" <nflgod@volcanomail.com> wrote in message
news:vv11pcr6rb87f1@corp.supernews.com...

There is nothing you can cite to support that shaving
> down makes any real difference except at the very highest level were the miniscule anount of added
> drag might just make that 1000th of a second difference.
>
> Most psychological benefit is more of a team camaradarie thing, i.e. all
the
> guys shaving down (just like they saw on TV!), and this guy said that
wasn't
> part of the equation.

I think it'd do a little more than shave 1000th/sec off. its a small amount, but not that small.
While i don't have access to the literature you'd require at this minute (let me get home, and i'll
be able to do this), i'd point you to the following reference to keep you busy:

Houmard, J. A., & Johns, R. A. (1994). Effects of taper on swim performance: practical implications.
Sports Medicine, 17, 224-232

Psychological benefits go further than simple 'cameraderie' also. there's no ergogenic benefit in
listening to the same cd before a race, or wearing the same socks, or any other of the more
individualised factors many swimmers incorporate into their routines - yet to rubbish one so
institutionalised within our sport is a bit harsh. it has value - the very fact he's worrying about
it shows it has value to him, and thats what matters, not what you or I think.

steve

Remind me never to ask a question in this newsgroup again. I assumed that this would be the only
newsgroup that would not criticize a guy who shaves his legs before swimming. I was wrong.

No, I'm not on a club team. No, I'm don't have a school team to be a part of. However I do love
swimming and hope to continue to get better. I have asked fellow swimmers at the pools that I swim
at for advice and have bought/checked out many swimming books and magazines that have helped. I do
hope to eventually find a club team, as there is no hope for my school to produce a swim team.

I do like the smooth look of a swimmer. I freely admit to that. Am I the only swimmer that likes the
look? Sure, I know I don't have to shave, but I do anyways. Does that make me some sort of a sick
person? No, it doesn't.

With regards to my expression 'real swimmers', it was referring to people who love to swim and who
give a positive outlook on swimming to others, sharing the knowledge they have learned with others
to promote and advance the sport.

For those of you would like to know the what the original question that started this mess, it was:
What product would help a guy swimmer that has developed some blemishes/pimples on his upper legs
due to shaving?

For those of you who feel I should not have asked this swimming-related question, I apologize for
posting it in rec.sport.swimming. I guess I was in the wrong newsgroup.

DK

Keep swimming. However, hairy guys are real men, despite the smooth hairless look favored on TV and
Gq these days...

Getting on a club and getting some coaching will do infinitely more than shaving your fuzz. You want
to be a swimmer, find a place to swim and don't fret about whether you look like some freaking
pretty boy swimmer on TV.

As far as your skin, seems a bit thin...this is usenet, smartass remarks are part of the
territory. As far as the skin problem, first, you're a teen. Pimples/blemishes happen. Second,
shaving isn't something your body likes...sharp steel blades ripping off the top layers of skin
aren't a natural thing.

Next, you're ISP is roadrunner out of austin, that's austin, aka the "swimming capital of texas."
(that's what it says at http://www.realtime.net/~dhbrown/ )

Sure, you may be out of town, roaming the hill country or something...than check out your LSC
...wow, even a map that shows you where all the USA clubs in the area are!
http://www.stswim.org/Admin/tteams.htm

There are some pretty good year-round YMCA teams as well. If you're north of the map, go to
ntswim.org, I know the Waco Y does both YMCA and USA swimming. A bit east of the map? Go to the gulf
lsc for houston, etc.

You can even check out meet results and the Texas Swimming Assoc.database to see how your times
stack up compared to other kids your age...it may be either encoraging or discouraging, depending on
your times, but at least it let's you see whether you're legitimately competitive http://www.usmd.edu/tsa-
ws/ ....although winning meets is certainly not the be all and end all, it will let you know if
you're shaving to be a hardcore swimmer or because you want people to think you're one.

"Dave King" <dking21@austin.rr.com> wrote in message news:3y3Ib.9250$DC4.4609@fe2.texas.rr.com...
> Remind me never to ask a question in this newsgroup again. I assumed that this would be the only
> newsgroup that would not criticize a guy who shaves his legs before swimming. I was wrong.
>
> No, I'm not on a club team. No, I'm don't have a school team to be a part of. However I do love
> swimming and hope to continue to get better. I have asked fellow swimmers at the pools that I swim
> at for advice and have bought/checked out many swimming books and magazines that have helped. I do
> hope to eventually find a club team, as there is no hope for my school to produce a swim team.
>
> I do like the smooth look of a swimmer. I freely admit to that. Am I the only swimmer that likes
> the look? Sure, I know I don't have to shave, but I do anyways. Does that make me some sort of a
> sick person? No, it doesn't.
>
> With regards to my expression 'real swimmers', it was referring to people who love to swim and who
> give a positive outlook on swimming to others, sharing the knowledge they have learned with others
> to promote and advance the sport.
>
> For those of you would like to know the what the original question that started this mess, it was:
> What product would help a guy swimmer that has developed some blemishes/pimples on his upper legs
> due to shaving?
>
> For those of you who feel I should not have asked this swimming-related question, I apologize for
> posting it in rec.sport.swimming. I guess I was in the wrong newsgroup.
>
> DK

Dave King wrote:
> I do like the smooth look of a swimmer. I freely admit to that. Am I the only swimmer that likes
> the look? Sure, I know I don't have to shave, but I do anyways. Does that make me some sort of a
> sick person? No, it doesn't.

It marks you as a bit strange. Since you are doing it for "th look," why didn't you just go to a
dermatologist in the first place?

> With regards to my expression 'real swimmers', it was referring to people who love to swim and who
> give a positive outlook on swimming to others, sharing the knowledge they have learned with others
> to promote and advance the sport.

Your question has nothing to do with promoting and advancing the sport. You aren't even shaving for
performance; you are shaving for "the look" which has nothing to do with the sport.

> For those of you would like to know the what the original question that started this mess, it was:
> What product would help a guy swimmer that has developed some blemishes/pimples on his upper legs
> due to shaving?
>
> For those of you who feel I should not have asked this swimming-related question, I apologize for
> posting it in rec.sport.swimming. I guess I was in the wrong newsgroup.

I'm sure you are just trolling, but see a dermatologist. A shrink is optional.

martin