NORTHERN PLANNER

PSFK pointed this out, but I can’t find their post. You may have noticed that I have a passing interest in swimming.

Swimming is as primal, simple sport. It’s just your body in different medium. As such, technology has never really been able to help – apart from shaving hair off to reduce friction.

But recently, world records are falling all over the place. Recieved wisdom is that it’s hard to beat nature – but they have made all over body suits that are better than skin – you glide though the water with minumum resistance.

In a way I think it’s sad, just like purists who mourn the passing of the old wooden tennis rackets, or soul surfers with their old wooden boards. There’s something noble about just you, your body and what you can push it to do. I know it’s a level playing field, but it just takes some of the romance out of it for me.

That said,I used to shave all my hair off, so maybe that’s a smidgin of hypocrisy. Not to mention, grow back on your chest itched like a bastard.