I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there a
decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have. I am
having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees, where
it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good product to
help my skin?

DK

Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?

"Dave King" <dking21@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:rUQFb.154635$Ek.4614@twister.austin.rr.com...
> I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there a
> decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have. I
> am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees,
> where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good
> product to help my skin?
>
> DK

wear one of those tight body suit, it suppose to make you swim faster.......

Kenny

"Dave King" <dking21@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:rUQFb.154635$Ek.4614@twister.austin.rr.com...
> I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there a
> decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have. I
> am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees,
> where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good
> product to help my skin?
>
> DK

i used to put alcogel (alcohol-gel) when i was a swimmer. good luck

--
Martin mcleroult@videotron.ca
Té 667-1948

"Dave King" <dking21@austin.rr.com> a écrit dans le message de
news:rUQFb.154635$Ek.4614@twister.austin.rr.com...
> I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there a
> decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have. I
> am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees,
> where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good
> product to help my skin?
>
> DK

I shave because I want better times. If I didn't shave I would have a lot more drag.

Please, I know REAL swimmers like myself, use this board and might have an answer to my problem
which is blemishes and pimples showing up on my upper legs from shaving. Please reply with
ideas. Thanks.

DK

> Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?
>
> "Dave King" <dking21@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:rUQFb.154635$Ek.4614@twister.austin.rr.com...
> > I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there
> > a decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have.
> > I am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my
> > knees, where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a
> > good product to help my skin?
> >
> > DK
> >
>

Dave King <dking21@austin.rr.com> wrote:
>I am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees,
>where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good product
>to help my skin?

So the question is - has he actually increased his drag in his quest to look like a cool swimmer,
but instead giving his legs lots of bumps from ingrown hairs?

Less steroids, less shaving. Save the latter for the big races. Don't forget to shave above the neck
too. No one was ever intimidated by Carrot Top.

--
Jason O'Rourke www.jor.com

"Dave King" <dking21@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:_%3Hb.2386$9W5.1303@fe2.texas.rr.com...
> I shave because I want better times. If I didn't shave I would have a lot more drag.

BZZT, wrong answer, unless you're freaking Bigfoot.

>
> Please, I know REAL swimmers like myself, use this board and might have an answer to my problem
> which is blemishes and pimples showing up on my upper legs from shaving. Please reply with
> ideas. Thanks.
>
> DK

Ahhh see, REAL swimmers shave, ergo to look likea cool real swimmer...

>
> > Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?
> >
> > "Dave King" <dking21@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
> > news:rUQFb.154635$Ek.4614@twister.austin.rr.com...
> > > I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is
> > > there a decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that
> > > I have. I am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but
> > > above my knees, where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone
> > > recommend a good product to help my skin?
> > >
> > > DK
> > >
> > >
> >
>

"Dave King" <dking21@austin.rr.com> wrote in message
news:_%3Hb.2386$9W5.1303@fe2.texas.rr.com...
> I shave because I want better times. If I didn't shave I would have a lot more drag.
>
> Please, I know REAL swimmers like myself, use this board and might have an answer to my problem
> which is blemishes and pimples showing up on my upper legs from shaving. Please reply with
> ideas. Thanks.
>
> DK

while the amount of drag induced by body hair is small, it does still exist. the benefit of shaving
is also psychological, like all the other small rituals that athletes perform in order to do
everything in their power.

firstly, i would ask what kind of razor you're using, and how often you're shaving. i used to only
shave down for championship, or other taper meets. i recommend that my swimmers don't even worry
about it until about 4-5 weeks out from the meet in question, then let it grow out, shaving down the
night before, then daily.

i know a lot of them use women's shaving products, men and women. do you use lotion afterwards? do
you shave in the bath tub or shower? be a bit more explicit in what you're doing and maybe we can
figure it out.

steve

"Jason O'Rourke" <jor@soda.csua.berkeley.edu> wrote in message
news:bsjrj6$2r9l$1@agate.berkeley.edu...
> Dave King <dking21@austin.rr.com> wrote:
> >I am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my
> >knees, where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a
> >good product to help my skin?
>
> So the question is - has he actually increased his drag in his quest to look like a cool
> swimmer, but instead giving his legs lots of bumps from ingrown hairs?

LOL... that could be very true! Aside from bing funny.

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 06:03:03 GMT, "Dave King" <dking21@austin.rr.com>
wrote:

>...I am having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my
>knees, where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good
>product to help my skin?

http://www.tendskin-distributor.com/

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 06:03:03 GMT, "Dave King" <dking21@austin.rr.com>
wrote:

>I am a swimmer in high school, unfortunately where my school does not have a team, nor is there a
>decent swim club in my area. I do not get a lot of coaching, except for the books that I have. I am
>having a problem with 'shaving down'. Below my knees, everything is fine...but above my knees,
>where it looks like my pores are larger, I am getting pimples. Can someone recommend a good product
>to help my skin?
>
>DK
>

Get some Nair or its generic equivalent for those sensative areas.

In article <vugk32a9nr6176@corp.supernews.com>, nflgod@volcanomail.com says...
> Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?

What did he do to deserve this reaction? Maybe he's shaving because for about 99% of the competitive
swimming population (at least that I've ever come in contact with in 40 some odd years) it results
in faster swims when applied judiciously (regardless of whether the effect was psychological,
physical or both.)

- Al

"Al" <spohn@nospam.bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a59fcd3b655450e9896f9@mayonews...
> In article <vugk32a9nr6176@corp.supernews.com>, nflgod@volcanomail.com says...
> > Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?
>
> What did he do to deserve this reaction? Maybe he's shaving because for about 99% of the
> competitive swimming population (at least that I've ever come in contact with in 40 some odd
> years) it results in faster swims when applied judiciously (regardless of whether the effect was
> psychological, physical or both.)
>
> - Al

He has no decent team or coach. there are a lot more constructive things to do to improve his
swimming than worry about the absolutely minimal effects of drag from hair. 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.

Instead, he's concerned with looking like a "swimmer"...merely a poseur.

In article <vv11pcr6rb87f1@corp.supernews.com>, nflgod@volcanomail.com says...
>
> "Al" <spohn@nospam.bigfoot.com> wrote in message news:MPG.1a59fcd3b655450e9896f9@mayonews...
> > In article <vugk32a9nr6176@corp.supernews.com>, nflgod@volcanomail.com says...
> > > Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?
> >
> > What did he do to deserve this reaction? Maybe he's shaving because for about 99% of the
> > competitive swimming population (at least that I've ever come in contact with in 40 some odd
> > years) it results in faster swims when applied judiciously (regardless of whether the effect was
> > psychological, physical or both.)
> >
> > - Al
>
> He has no decent team or coach. there are a lot more constructive things to do to improve his
> swimming than worry about the absolutely minimal effects of drag from hair. 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.

I'll grant you that there might be more constructive things to be accomplished (during that 15
minutes it will take him to shave down,) but I'd need more information than the fact that he doesn't
have a good coach to take that any further. No argument, either, with the fact that I have no
statistics at my disposal to support the idea that shaving down makes a difference. I really have no
idea if any studies have been done to that end - I'm happy to take your word for it if you're aware
of any. But based on my own reasonably extensive experience (AAU,USS,High School/NCAA/Masters) the
idea that shaving down did not have a substantial effect on the vast majority of swimmers that used
the technique sparingly doesn't jive with reality.

> 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.

We're also in agreement that the effect is about 99% psychological (a hunch on my part since I'm not
a scientist.) But for me (and most of the people I swam with) it was more a function of how it made
me feel in the water rather than any team effect (although I'm sure that's a player with some
folks.) I've gone to several meets by myself or with one or two other people (who might or might not
have been shaving) where the effect was undiminished.

> Instead, he's concerned with looking like a "swimmer"...merely a poseur.

Why the deragatory assumption? Even in the absence of any evidence (statistical, anecdotal or
whatever) that shaving helps, can you not provide for the possibility that he might really think it
will improve his swimming? That's a far cry from doing it to look cool, falacious reasoning or not.
Putting him at the bottom of the food chain just because he's pursuing a strategy that, in your
opinion, is ineffective is uncalled for.

- Al

"Al" <spohn@nospam.bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1a5a4ea199ad6d699896fa@mayonews...
> In article <vv11pcr6rb87f1@corp.supernews.com>, nflgod@volcanomail.com says...
> >
> > "Al" <spohn@nospam.bigfoot.com> wrote in message news:MPG.1a59fcd3b655450e9896f9@mayonews...
> > > In article <vugk32a9nr6176@corp.supernews.com>, nflgod@volcanomail.com says...
> > > > Why shave, unless it's something you think all "cool" swimmers do?
> > >
> > > What did he do to deserve this reaction? Maybe he's shaving because
for
> > > about 99% of the competitive swimming population (at least that I've ever come in contact with
> > > in 40 some odd years) it results in faster swims when applied judiciously (regardless of
> > > whether the effect was psychological, physical or both.)
> > >
> > > - Al
> >
> > He has no decent team or coach. there are a lot more constructive
things to
> > do to improve his swimming than worry about the absolutely minimal
effects
> > of drag from hair. 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.
>
> I'll grant you that there might be more constructive things to be accomplished (during that 15
> minutes it will take him to shave down,) but I'd need more information than the fact that he
> doesn't have a good coach to take that any further. No argument, either, with the fact that I have
> no statistics at my disposal to support the idea that shaving down makes a difference. I really
> have no idea if any studies have been done to that end - I'm happy to take your word for it if
> you're aware of any. But based on my own reasonably extensive experience (AAU,USS,High
> School/NCAA/Masters) the idea that shaving down did not have a substantial effect on the vast
> majority of swimmers that used the technique sparingly doesn't jive with reality.
>
> > 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.
>
> We're also in agreement that the effect is about 99% psychological (a hunch on my part since I'm
> not a scientist.) But for me (and most of the people I swam with) it was more a function of how it
> made me feel in the water rather than any team effect (although I'm sure that's a player with some
> folks.) I've gone to several meets by myself or with one or two other people (who might or might
> not have been shaving) where the effect was undiminished.
>
> > Instead, he's concerned with looking like a "swimmer"...merely a poseur.
>
> Why the deragatory assumption? Even in the absence of any evidence (statistical, anecdotal or
> whatever) that shaving helps, can you not provide for the possibility that he might really think
> it will improve his swimming? That's a far cry from doing it to look cool, falacious reasoning or
> not. Putting him at the bottom of the food chain just because he's pursuing a strategy that, in
> your opinion, is ineffective is uncalled for.
>
> - Al
>

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.