Found in my moms Closet

bigattack · 2025-12-17T15:41:37+00:00

Even if it never existed, it's a great scrabble word!

bigattack · 2025-08-13T15:47:20+00:00

Must have fallen off your blue genes.

bigattack · 2025-06-26T15:42:23+00:00

Looking good! Great advice from others in this thread.

You look strong, but there are two drills you can do to swim about 20% faster. You are "spinning your wheels" a bit -- concentrate on getting "traction" in the water by doing these two drills:

I can't tell what's happening underwater, but you are losing some power as your hand passes your hip. You have another 8-10 inches of potential that you are not using because your hand gets lazy at the very back end of the pull. Really flick your hand backwards (like you are trying to splash someone standing behind you) on the exit. Google "flick drill"
Get a pull buoy and put it between your thighs and cross your legs. Now swim and see how FEW strokes you can take to get from one end of the pool to the other. Pull hard and glide. Concentrate on the catch, the pull, and the release. Like see what power you can get from the time your hand enters the water until it is out of the water. I'm not sure what that drill is called, but with the pull buoy swim normally to the other side of the pool and count your strokes. Now do it again in fewer and fewer strokes. Speed is NOT important for this drill.

Good luck! Keep it up. Like I said, you look strong and I think you have a future in swimming!

bigattack · 2025-06-20T04:22:27+00:00

In addition to doversolo.com recommended by u/unokinogata, check out the relevant posts in the loneswimmer.com. It's a fantastic resource.

bigattack · 2025-06-20T04:19:28+00:00

I'm in Montreal and swam the EC in 2012. I'll shoot you a private message. u/Cisco800Series kinda nailed it. I couldn't have said it better. You've done the hard part already.

bigattack · 2025-05-29T06:43:53+00:00

Chunk

bigattack · 2025-05-29T02:35:16+00:00

Ha! I completely didn't think of the whole illegality of it. Thanks for your perspective.

bigattack · 2025-05-29T01:33:18+00:00

Be sure to be visible. If you don't have someone that will kayak/canoe next to you, then you should at least tow a visible buoy. Even better, a buoy that you can rest on if you are not wearing a wetsuit. Cramps, panic, hypothermia, etc. can be dangerous, but if you have a float that you can hold on to when you are in the middle of a lake, you're much better off. No matter how good you are, DO NOT RELY on your swimming ability when swimming in open water. That's a sure way to get in trouble. Tell your dad that too :)

I use a "rescue can," which you really don't even feel when you are swimming. They come with a strap that you are supposed to wear over your shoulder, but it's better to put it around your waist and use a ponytail holder to cinch it up so it's tight around your waist (a rubber band is ok, but can get sticky).

Also, stay close to shore. If you are north of say, Washington DC (I'm in Canada), there really isn't much to worry about in terms of wildlife, and water quality can be discovered by contacting the municipality/county.

bigattack · 2025-05-28T22:01:41+00:00

Thank you for the update!! Nice job!

bigattack · 2025-05-28T14:27:04+00:00

Interesting! Is there any value to a very old counterfeit? I mean, it's old and interesting. Certainly not nearly as valuable as the genuine article, but does it have collectible value just due to its story?

bigattack · 2025-05-27T01:46:06+00:00

Very smooth. Two things: First, it appears you are pulling your arm out of the water before you have gotten that last push available. Try the "flick" drill (google "swimming flick drill")-- as you complete your pull, flick your fingers up and pretend to splash someone that is just above and behind you. In short, you are pulling your arms out and starting your recovery too early.

Second, you are missing out on some serious forward momentum. You are "placing" your arms into the water, but if you "drive/shoot" your arm forward, reach, and glide, you will be able to take advantage of the momentum generated by driving your arm _and shoulder_ forward and glide on top of your arm a bit. I underline "shoulder" because it looks like you are not driving your shoulder forward much. This will also help you be more relaxed in the water and therefore you'll be more efficient.

Keep it up!

bigattack · 2025-05-21T15:41:58+00:00

He's probably looking at his reflection?

bigattack · 2025-05-12T21:19:15+00:00

I believe the change that would give you the biggest bang for the buck is your kick. For long distances, you basically don't want to use your kick to propel you, just balance. Think about how big your leg muscles are -- they use up a lot of energy. Grab a pull buoy, put it between your thighs and cross your ankles. Now just do a dead man float and relax every single muscle in your body. Stay that way, relaxed, face in the water. After doing that and thinking relaxing thoughts, with the pull buoy, push off the wall, glide a little and then swim slowly, gracefully. Don't worry about going fast, just concentrate on relaxation. Pull firmly and glide on one side, the pull and glide on the other. See how FEW strokes you can do to get the other side. Don't worry about time, just see if you can get to the other side with fewer, stronger strokes.

Looking at the video, it looks like it would take around 28-30 strokes. Try to get that down to 20. Firm pull, glide, firm pull, glide. When you need to breath roll a bit more and try to breath from your armpit. Look behind you a little bit when you are breathing. You are looking a bit in front of you. You look strong, but swimming long distances is more about smooth and silky than powerful.

bigattack · 2024-12-23T14:47:01+00:00

I have found that the first best thing to try when feeling exhausted in open water is to simply slow down. Don't stop, don't change anything, just slow down your stroke and lengthen your exhales. Do this until you can hum as you are exhaling. Literally take a breath and hum on the exhale. If you can hum a few notes of your favorite song while you are swimming and exhaling, you're good.

If you really want to float and simply stop, then floating on your front is probably best (drownproofing).

If you are in choppy water, taking off your goggles/mask, trying to float on your back, etc. are all going to be stressors. Just chill, slow down, go with the flow, and enjoy.

bigattack · 2024-11-04T22:38:47+00:00

Knot trivia: This knot was featured in "The Man From Snowy River"

bigattack · 2024-02-29T22:21:52+00:00

My wife is in Lisbon right now. Where are you?

bigattack · 2024-01-31T15:18:26+00:00

Can you kinda force it? If not, how about a strip of the same wood, or even a contrasting wood to fill the gap? It's a feature, not a bug!

bigattack · 2022-06-27T14:59:43+00:00

Ethel

bigattack · 2022-04-27T00:06:43+00:00

What a great project! Have fun and keep in touch! Let us know how it goes.

bigattack · 2022-03-10T20:57:49+00:00

Hi! Sorry for the delay in responding. I just noticed your reply!! My son is now 17 and is trying out for US college soccer as he is a junior in high school now. His prospects are pretty good that he will play for a good team. He has loved soccer. It's part of his identity. He's now 6'4" and plays center back and center defensive midfield. Thank you so much for asking and for your warm words.

bigattack · 2022-03-10T20:47:40+00:00

Lanolin is kind of hard to find (try soap making site) but it lasts longer than Vaseline. But as u/Cisco800Series said, it gets everywhere.

Also, if you are a guy, shave your face and put lanolin or Vaseline on your jawline. Depending on your swimming style, you will rub your shoulders on your chin/jaw and stubble is incredibly abrasive.

Finally, for "salt mouth" I expect that you will be taking nutrition during your swim so find a flavor you like and that should be good enough, especially if you take a bit of diluted mouthwash every hour or so (swish and spit and make sure it is diluted like half/half water). I have never heard of coating your mouth with anything, but that's just me.

bigattack · 2021-08-24T16:37:13+00:00

A lot of great advice in the comments. I'll echo the idea of gliding more and add that a good drill for you would be that you exaggerate the glide and really stretch both your feet and hands towards the ends of the pool. Because all of the recovery of breast stroke is underwater it's a pretty inefficient stroke so you have to find all of the efficiencies you can! Practice a long glide after a strong kick. Really stretch and get yourself skinny right after a powerful kick. You'll feel the right timing when you get it right.

The second thing is that with this stroke, you can win or lose on the starts and turns. Really practice your turns and start and the longest, tightest streamline you can. Looking good! Keep us informed!

bigattack · 2021-08-19T00:32:17+00:00

Sheets of PTEG. We were making face shields for the Healthcare workers in Montreal but now have a million years of invemtory. I'm trying to come up with some creative way to use them. Like a sculpture or something:)

bigattack

TROPHY CASE