How many men still shave for meets?

I shave for zones and nationals. My times were faster at nationals. I don't think shaving has alot to do with it.

I shave for taper meets about 3 times a year. Minor meets I wear my older FSs and save my FS Pro for the taper meets.

Legs and chest stay shaved all the time. Just easier. The rest comes off once and a while for meets.

I still wear a brief for breaststroke, and yes - shave for big meets.

When I started swimming masters about 11 years ago, I was torn as I know I go faster when I shave, but feel dumb doing so at my advanced age. Now, I'm old enough where I just don't give a crap what people think and I shave three times a year. What's up with people shaving their body and leaving an absorbent mop on their face and/or head?

I shave where my hi neck fastskin suit doesn't cover arms, pits, face neck and back I did shave my legs below my knees it's also good to clip belly and chest hairs hairs can poke through the suit fabric

Yes. I always swim much, much faster shaved. I love the way it makes you feel in the water.

I never shaved my pits. Probably should have. The discomfort outweighs any benefits that may arise from this activity. I speak from experience. I'll never do it again. I shave for nationals - legs up to speedo-line and wear a legsuit. As someone mentioned, the hairs will come through if you don't get rid of them. Not that a few will slow you down, but even with the legs on, the shave still feels awesome. While I do think a lot of shaving is mental, you won't see me testing my theory in a big meet any time soon.

So, you racer types, do you wear the FS and shave for just the big meets, all the time, or something in between? Skip Montanaro

... I WILL shave for my first big meet since '86 - SCY Nationals in Austin. And then again for LCM Nationals at Mt. Hood. It'll be strange, but I always loved that first dive into the pool after shaving - it felt like a magnet was pulling you to the other end of the pool!