To Beard, or Not to Beard?
ForeverSwim
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaCharter Member
Wanted to throw out a discussion on everyone's thoughts on growing facial hair while participating in open water swimming; specifically how much this might slow a swimmer! We've all seen images of clean-shaven channel swimmers ("makes the grease cling better") and we've also seen pictures of some pretty awesome beards (a.k.a "Beardsmen", or "The Bearded Wonders"). I've heard some rumors it might slow a swimmer a few seconds per 100m, which would amount to some serious time over a long channel swim!
www.darren-miller.com
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.A.
Tagged:
Comments
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams
...just thought I'd see if any "swim scientists" out there ever did any research!
www.darren-miller.com
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.A.
In looking at my 50 free times at the CalTech Pentathlon from 2009 to 2011 it looks like the beard has a negligible effect when you figure the boost from my techsuit in '09 and '10
2009 - 25.9 speedsuit + goatee
2010 - 25.49 speedsuit + large goatee
2011 - 26.51 jammer + full on adventure beard
If we want an open water swim to track (which is an amazingly inconsistent thing to track) here's what my four rounds of Naples Island Swims look like:
2008 - 40:48 jammer + goatee w/ no mustache, also worth noting my first open water and masters race ever!
2009 - 33:07 b70 and short goatee
2010 - 30:38 b70 and full adventure beard
2011 - 35:07 - drag suit and much longer adventure beard
Draw whatever conclusions you would like from my obviously bulletproof scientific data
...anything worth doing is worth overdoing.
Ted Erikson sporting his patented "Freshwater Adventure Goatee" before a 1961 Lake Michigan race:
Abo-Heif, clean-shaven in 1969:
[Pics from Wind, Waves, & Sunburn.]
Dear God... It looks like you are competing in the female swimmer's version of the sport of "ferrett legging." (Google that if you want to see a sport crazier than marathon swimming.) Pass the eye bleach, please.
I had a goatee for years but shaved it because it seemed that the moustache part was channeling water into my mouth if it got longer than stubble. I admit that I can't grow a good adventure beard and am jealous.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
in that first naples island picture mine was shaved because I was convinced it was trying to drown me while backstroking. A full, but not too long, 'stache doesn't give me too much trouble in the water. I don't really notice it much.
A few months back I started letting my 'stache go to see what would happen and sometimes it's a problem and will run water straight into my mouth which is no fun. Here's what it looks like as of last night while swimming though light chop...
I seem to be at a length right now where it's long enough to channel it past my mouth. My goal is to grow it long enough that I can braid my mustache into my beard to skip these problems completely.
:{D>
@aquarob - So, which one are you going for?
www.darren-miller.com
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.A.
One of the downsides of a blog is some of the unsolicited advertising crap companies send you.
I just received another unwanted Press Release. Maybe I should get them to send it to @ForeverSwim & @AquaRob instead. Here are the (entirely serious) images of the Beard Cap.
*
I will not be doing a review of this.
loneswimmer.com
@loneswimmer -
At least be thankful that it isn't a fur-lined jock strap that they are promoting.
-LBJ
“Moderation is a fatal thing. Nothing succeeds like excess.” - Oscar Wilde
How do you even get beard chafing in a wetsuit?
@leonard_jansen At least we can all see the utility of a fur-lined jockstrap. Mmmm, snug.
loneswimmer.com
Good point evmo, but perhaps it is more intended to keep the adventure beard tucked away, tidy and away from the icky critters that can entangle in the beard. I suspect the model is not a real swimmer - no goggles.
I've seen some serious shoulder burns which look very sore and unpleasant, but usually acquired on a long swim under channel rules. The question is: Will MSF be revising their rules to allow for use of the beard cap to save the poor fellas who cannot grow adventure beards.
I just recently had a friend ask me if I wore a "chin cap" because they noticed I kept my beard through SCAR. I am glad to see that it is a legitimate option now haha
I have found that having a short beard like I have now (~1cm at the longest point) helps prevent any shoulder chaffing I have had in the past when clean shaven. I haven't noticed any difference in my speed since growing it.
Never had a prob with the beard other than shoulder burns in the early days...mine stays around 5-6 inches off the chin. The REAL problem, and if anyone has a solution, please let me know, is the mustache. As it gets long enough to start to form a good handlebar, it drags water into my mouth every time i roll up to breathe. Exhaling after my mouth comes out f the water helps, but is so inefficient that I cannot stand it. Any handlebar wearers out there have a solution?
I've grew a beard out of curiosity 4 months ago and to shrug off 30++ years of shaving. It's softer when wet than stubble and you feel the water slipping through it! I keep it trimmed with a clean neck, all good but for the fact its grey.... ;-(
Beards are best. In Dover harbour, where this shot was taken, beards are routinely sported by women too, due to the extremely silty water. It's a very special look.......
I'm testing my first time tonight!
I decided to try it out mainly because of the purported anti-chafing benefit that others have claimed, namely @Jbetley .
But I've anecdotally found that it feels "warmer" on my face, thinking that it acts as a slight barrier and the water rolls off the beard and not in constant contact with the skin.
So, although it bugs me the other majority dry hours of the day and I'll be shaving it tmrw or next day, I'm a believer.
Channel Beard prevailed! :>
Good work! I may try it in Issyk Kul in the spring when I start OW training for my June/July crossing attempt.
We're all just carbon, water, starlight, oxygen and dreams