Shaving down

I shave for my taper meets. Your first meet is a big deal so shave if you want to. Also since not everyone can go to nationals or zones just about any meet you go to will be a taper meet for someone.

I shaved for just 1 meet, the one time I went to nationals (well nationals came to me). It didn't have any impact on my times, and I haven't shaved since. We have a few people on my team who use Fastskins, but for as often as I do meets (maybe once a year), it isn't something I'm going to throw that kind of money at.

I shaved for just 1 meet, the one time I went to nationals (well nationals came to me). It didn't have any impact on my times, and I haven't shaved since. Shaving and tapering makes a HUGE difference for me. I only do the two together so I can't tell you which one is the biggest factor. All I know is I swim much faster shaved and tapered.

I've found I can taper for meets about every 8 to 10 weeks apart. I'll only shave for 3 max (1 per course, SCY, LCM and SCM) per year though. The tapering part is relatively easy once I found I need about 3 weeks of pre-meet resting, sprinting, timed and broken swims. I'll need about 5 to 7 weeks beforehand of heavy duty workouts to get tired enough to justify the taper portion. I could swim "tapered" (in theory) 5 or 6 meets per year at that frequency. Part of my challenge with shaving more frenquently is that my hair doesn't grow back fast enuf. I sometimes forego a SCM shave.

If it helps you, do it. Who cares what others think. Good luck to you.

How common is it for people to shave down for Master's meets? When I competed in college (a looong time ago), everyone shaved down. I was one of those people for which shaving always made a big difference. So, do people do it for USMS ? I just started master's swimming, and have a meet coming up. I don't want to be the only shaved swimmer at the meet, and have folks thinking that I'm taking this too seriously.. Thanks for any info. Although most people have a specific meet in mind and are training to that and will shave for it, I just went through the same dilemma as you for my first meet in 25 years. I shaved down with electric only so I had a little hair left but there were not too many really hairy guys. I didn't look out of place, and would not have had I razored off the stubble. It was my first meet and I wanted to get a good a time as I could to set the starting point. Anyhow what's wrong with taking USMS seriously. There are a lot of very serious competitors here.

only do it for a big meet and if you do shave, wear a fastskin.

only do it for a big meet and if you do shave, wear a fastskin. Warren, with respect and I know you mean well. I just want to say that a "first" meet in a number of years is a big meet, psychologically as big as perhaps an end of season for a regular swimmer. Also FS is a big investment for a new or returning swimmer who may ultimately decide that competition is not really for them. ;) Rich

Warren, with respect and I know you mean well. I just want to say that a "first" meet in a number of years is a big meet, psychologically as big as perhaps than an end of season for a regular swimmer. Also FS is a big investment for a new or returning swimmer who may ultimately decide that competition is not really for them. ;) Rich yeah I can understand that but im just trying to say, dont shave for every meet.

yeah I can understand that but im just trying to say, dont shave for every meet. I know warren I kind of truncated my reply there. I mean to elaborate and say that if you get in the swing of it you'll aim for regionals or just your favourite annual meet and shave for it. Sorry to sound snappy. I didn't want him to feel intimidated about shaving for a minor meet though, mainly. :wiggle: