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Quote: Originally posted by Floydfan on 03/08/2004

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As any lifeguard will tell you, they can be dangerous....my wife's a qualified lifeguard, and she says it's all to do with the drag they cause when a swimmer gets into difficulty, and they're heavier, weigh more, etc...

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Amazing, I never realised I was taking such a great risk in me shorts ........

Mind you I dont do that much swimming, only a couple of 2KM sessions a week so perhaps I dont to enough for the risk to be relavent.

(Bronze Medallion in Lifesaveing - Expired)

Quote: Originally posted by jeepster on 03/08/2004

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Go to a naturist site!. No problems with what to wear there!

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Could'nt swim naked, too much drag ......

France: No shorts generally, but the odd one or two will allow (I just can't think of the name off hand, but there is a site towards the Alps from the Med coast where they do evening mime performances of Les Miserable! - large/ expensiveish site.)

Italy: Shorts not a problem, but some sites have a thing about swiming hats - which can usually be purchased from reception and happens to cover the rules for that particular site!

Germany: rules vary, but I have known some that like swimming hats.

We are off to France for the first time on Thursday (ferry at silly o'clock), after reading this I went and invested in a pair of Speedo's, but I haven't dared to try them on yet.

Quote: Originally posted by pedro on 03/08/2004

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Just out of curiosity, what`s the problem with speedos?

Answer, Beer bellies and fat arses........

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So beer bellies and fat arses vanish into hyperspace when you wear shorts to swim in????? Wow........

.......do they do them for wimmin too?

At  the site in Sarzeau one of the pool rules clearly stated in several places;

No holding breath under water.

As someone said "I call that drowning"

Val.

camouflage!

Quote: Originally posted by srnet on 06/08/2004

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Quote: Originally posted by Floydfan on 03/08/2004

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As any lifeguard will tell you, they can be dangerous....my wife's a qualified lifeguard, and she says it's all to do with the drag they cause when a swimmer gets into difficulty, and they're heavier, weigh more, etc...

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Amazing, I never realised I was taking such a great risk in me shorts ........

Mind you I dont do that much swimming, only a couple of 2KM sessions a week so perhaps I dont to enough for the risk to be relavent.

(Bronze Medallion in Lifesaveing - Expired)

I would imagine it's aimed more at the non-swimmer, or 'holiday' swimmer, Stuart, rather than the obvious long-distance expert such as yourself. My wife is also a qualified swimming teacher, and coach. The kids train in speedo's, pro swimmers swim in one piece suits these days....why do you think that is? It's to cause less drag through the water, isn't it?

On our campsite there were 2 German kids (10-ish) in the pool in long shorts & they got chucked out. As the dad didn't speak French the campsite lady got me to translate. It's their department of hygiene and health that stipulates speedos or those speedo shorts because anything else might be construed to be washing! It's a bit like our Health and Safety, who go mad from time to time. I didn't ask how they stood about children swimming in anti-sun tee shirts. Madame campsite also said her Dutch guests had told her some pools there require bathing caps as an anti-head-lice precaution.

Because I don't like routine anti-German attitudes (there were plenty of French kids in there with long shorts) I asked if hubby & son were wearing the right stuff.Then we had to go out buy posing pouches:-(   Son was mortified and embarrassed and ... umm...hubby just looks so much cuter in long shorts.. Both would be happier starkers.

Mind, I've always wondered why south European men stand at the edge of the pool with their genitals in a bag - and now I know. I've always thought it was gross.When I was younger I thought it was a tacky come-on and now I've got a son to protect I think it's ... well, lets just say I have my doubts about the drag theory (except in an Olympic context)

Liz

Quote: Originally posted by lizex on 17/08/2004

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 ... well, lets just say I have my doubts about the drag theory (except in an Olympic context)

Liz

Liz, it isn't only in an Olympic context. There are hundreds of swimming clubs up and down the country that make this a standard practice. My two boys have been brought up swimming at National level. As has my daughter.  My eldest son has swum representing his county in a junior Commonwealth Games. ALL of the ASA run competitions require 'proper' swimming kit. My two lads have no qualms at all about pulling on their 'posing pouches' as you put it. They have no need to be embarrassed, after all, all men have the same equipment. It's possibly due to the naturally repressed English, or possibly Northern European attitude towards these things that makes your boys and hubby so uncomfortable?

Sorry, but the drag theory when applied to swimming as a sport is right, when applied to southern european men is a matter of taste!

Quote: Originally posted by Floydfan on 17/08/2004

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Quote: Originally posted by lizex on 17/08/2004

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 ... well, lets just say I have my doubts about the drag theory (except in an Olympic context)

Liz

Liz, it isn't only in an Olympic context. There are hundreds of swimming clubs up and down the country that make this a standard practice.

Yes, but in a leisure pool on holiday!? Don't you think that's taking it a bit far?

Our local pool has made the odd feeble attempt to make schoolchildren wear speedos in swimming lessons, but not all pools in the city do. As this is the pool that refuses to stop the over-50's men from going in the boys changing rooms before the schools lessons are over, I just thought .... (well, you don't want to know)

My two boys have been brought up swimming at National level. As has my daughter.  My eldest son has swum representing his county in a junior Commonwealth Games. ALL of the ASA run competitions require 'proper' swimming kit.

Wow, you must be soo proud of them! :-)

My two lads have no qualms at all about pulling on their 'posing pouches' as you put it. They have no need to be embarrassed, after all, all men have the same equipment.

I can assure you it's not modesty with either of them!  We'd all be quite happy swimming starkers. We just find speedos ugly garments.

It's possibly due to the naturally repressed English, or possibly Northern European attitude towards these things that makes your boys and hubby so uncomfortable?

Naa.. not us. Us adults have spent quite a lot of time living in mainland Europe, and my son has been brought up to be very comfortable in his skin.

Sorry, but the drag theory when applied to swimming as a sport is right,

Well fine, I see your point, but I still think it's overkill in a campsite leisure pool.

when applied to southern european men is a matter of taste!

Agreed!

I hope you're not taking this exchange amiss, I've certainly learnt something new from it:-)

 

Liz

 

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Not at all Liz, the missus and me are forever trying to defend the sport, and try to give it more exposure (pardon the pun!).

Yep, we're very proud of all three of the kids, and have rooms stuffed with trophies, badges, medals etc! It's taught them a valuable skill, and one that could potentially save lives one day!

By the way, I agree that it's overkill in a campsite pool....I'd feel more comfy in my surfing shorts. I was initially trying to explain away the issue with relation to both the 'drag' and safety concerns.

Cheers!

I was a bit bemused by the ruling, truth to tell. I'm a great lover of all things French and have been a regular visitor for 30 years or more, but this year (2004!!) I still found one bog-troll claiming money for wiping a filthy rag round the seat, and one fetid windowless, pitch dark stench of a loo. So I really don't understand why they're bothering about the possibility of us washing our clothes in the pool when we're far more likely to be bringing in cholera from one of their medieval loos!

(tongue firmly in cheek)

Liz