Equipment Rep
Trains with every piece of equipment available at all times.
The Luddite
Trains with nothing. Only uses a loin cloth and goggles in workout.
The Barnacle
Leaves right on your feet. Couldn't count to five or ten if his life depnded on it.
The Coach
Not an actual coach, but someone who is consumed with technique. Swimming is a precise set of moves that can be broken down, categorized, and scientifically analyzed.
The Jaded
Could care less about technique. Just wants to swim and leave the analysis to the eggheads.
The Swimaholic
Trains at least 10 swimming workouts a week. Anything less is viewed as not trying.
Fast Guy who Never Trains
Shows up once a month and breaks national records in practice.
Hardest Working Man in the Swim Business
Trains like a ferocious animal in workout, but has no speed when it comes to racing.
Lane Guy
Works out in a lane that is far too fast or slow for him.
The Crack Guy
Dude, pull your swimsuit up or get a bigger size.
The Newbie
Shows up to practice in board shorts and a scuba mask.
_________________
As for myself, I would fall into the categories of Luddite and Jaded. Also, I wrote this from a male perspective, but the women are included as well. Any other stereotypes?
There's a guy in the university pool I swim in that 's like that. Only worse. He's maybe 65 or 70 years old and I've seen him regularly for the last 25 or 30 years. I'm guessing he swims at least 3 times a week. Maybe somewhere up to 7.
He does a modified dog paddle - his arms come out of the water, but his face never goes in. His hips and legs are bent at 60 to 90 degrees and roiate a littel with his torso but otherwise unmoving.
It has been over 7 years since my gym opened its pool. The old guy with the ridiculous vertical doggy paddle hasn't changed his style one bit in all that time. The back floaters still can't navigate... at all. Paddle Guy With Unbending Elbows is still a danger to anyone within 4 feet of him. Triathlete Doing Bicycle Kick Freestyle still doesn't understand. (and I think Triathlete Doing Reverse Bicycle Kick Freestyle just gave up at some point) Old dogs have not learned new tricks. Meanwhile with the incentive of competition, I've improved my technique, lowered my times in most of the pool events, learned the back-to-*** flip turn, learned 6-beat kick in freestyle, learned DPS butterfly, and started swimming distance fly and distance IM in meets. I don't want to try it their way...
There's a guy in the university pool I swim in that 's like that. Only worse. He's maybe 65 or 70 years old and I've seen him regularly for the last 25 or 30 years. I'm guessing he swims at least 3 times a week. Maybe somewhere up to 7.
He does a modified dog paddle - his arms come out of the water, but his face never goes in. His hips and legs are bent at 60 to 90 degrees and roiate a littel with his torso but otherwise unmoving.
It has been over 7 years since my gym opened its pool. The old guy with the ridiculous vertical doggy paddle hasn't changed his style one bit in all that time. The back floaters still can't navigate... at all. Paddle Guy With Unbending Elbows is still a danger to anyone within 4 feet of him. Triathlete Doing Bicycle Kick Freestyle still doesn't understand. (and I think Triathlete Doing Reverse Bicycle Kick Freestyle just gave up at some point) Old dogs have not learned new tricks. Meanwhile with the incentive of competition, I've improved my technique, lowered my times in most of the pool events, learned the back-to-*** flip turn, learned 6-beat kick in freestyle, learned DPS butterfly, and started swimming distance fly and distance IM in meets. I don't want to try it their way...
