Who swims?

[MarkC]

And those who do, where do you swim; lakes, ocean, pool...?
And do you have any favorite brand or type of swimming attire?
I ask because I chanced upon my old Birdwell Beach Britches, which is what we all wore back home.
When I was there, I swam in the Atlantic from mid-Spring til several weeks after Labor day, and usually had on my favorite Birdies.
Went through a minor Ocean Pacific/Sundecks/Quicksilver phase, but always preferred the Bird.
Out here, it's usually the pool, though I have ventured into Lake Washington a few times.

 

[huffmuds9320]

I always swim at a swimming pool. Haven't had a chance to swim at a olympic size pool yet. Other than that I guess I could say I swam at Waterworld or Raging Waters.

No preferred brand. For goggles I use Speedo or TYR brand, I don't buy expensive ones usually ~$15 and get the slightly tinted ones. I always wear swim trunks or shorts whatever you call them. Not really into those professional swim suits that look like you are going diving.

 

[CivicFan]

My swimming is mainly trying to stay afloat and not drown. Because of that, I only swim in shallow areas of oceans or seas.

 

[Shannow]

Used to swim competetively up until around 14/15, then swam for enjoyment, then stopped.

Local pool is not the best, and the power stations have drained the dams, or salted them up.

 

[moribundman]

I used to swim in the Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean, rivers, lakes, swimming pools, you name it. I still swim in pools and in the Pacific (not so much anymore, see picture below). I swam in the Atlantic last year, for the first time in years.

Gear:

pool: speedos
lake: shorts
ocean: shorts for non serious swimming -- think day on the beach, or wetsuit, fins and goggles, possibly mask and snorkel (not here in the Bay Area; we have murky water)

By the way, I'm not one of those California beach fried critters.

 

[Bret Chase]

I don't swim nearly as much as I used to (grew up on a lake).. I've swam in pools, lakes, oceans, rivers, even the occasional "puddle" in gravel pits. usual attire is swim trunks, I guess Nike would be my brand, but I've probably had the same trunks for 10 years.

Back when I was married, taking my little ones to the local beach always used to make me nervous because my then wife was from KY and didn't know how to read the waves for undertow and my kids couldn't swim.

 

[moribundman]

Where I grew up we had dozens of gravel pit nearby, all filled with water. Several of them were big enough for motorboats and water skiing. These artificial lakes made for good fishing and swimming, but they were very deep with cold water. Only the surface water would get warm and when you'd let your legs sink down, the temperature would drop shockingly. These lakes had also very dark water due to their depth, and sometimes a big fish would brush against your leg. Creepy! In the river we had big catfish, typically 40-60 pounders, but there have been 400 lbs catfish caught. Luckily I never saw one of those big ones, or I wouldn't have gone back in the water.

 

[Kestas]

Fish like to nibble on people's toes and hair. That's why they "brush up" against you. They're looking for dead skin to nibble on. I've had this happen in the Michigan lakes as well as in the Atlantic.

 

[moribundman]

Good man, if you got dead skin on your toes, you may want to stay out of the water and see a dermatologist pronto!

 

[MarkC]

I don't really like pools or chlorine, but that's what's available here, I'd bet Lake Washington isn't very clean, with all the cities and developments along it's shores, not to mention the 18 billion geese and ducks who use it as a toliet.
Back home, I was molested by jellyfish, a Portuguese Man 0' War (didn't die) a school of bluefish, several small to medium size sharks, and a 7 foot gator showed an alarming interest in me once. Only a few small scars, no mental or emotional trauma.
You have to realize that the world bites.

 

[Bret Chase]

I vastly prefer chlorinated pools over the brominated or "salted" ones. my ex-wife's aunt had a pool that used that "no chlorine" stuff... every time I swam there my skin would itch for a couple days after.. gave that up real quick.

 

[Chris142]

I sink

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:

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I sink

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Me too. I swam quite often in my youth ..through my late 20's. No matter how much weight I gained, I never had enough fat to be very buoyant (yes, I know that muscle, even "marbled" muscle is the heaviest tissue ..but still). My wife, when she finally stopped starving herself to remain trim (pregnant- and enjoying it) looked like she was on a raft. Toes out of the water and everything

I swam in just about everything accessible to an east coast type person. Quarries began to scare me as I aged due to my struggling to successfully survival float ..and that many were 150'+ deep. I could see myself in the open water and tiring and drowning without any real challenges for current or waves if I didn't have any flotation devices.

 

[moribundman]

Gary, a wetsuit will make you buoyant (did I spell that right?) and will allow you to swim faster. Swimming, besides cycling, is the only sport that doesn't bore me to tears.

 

[windnsea00]

In the summer I like to swim at my local beach a good deal. I go in simple board shorts and womp (aka, ride shore break with my body...very fun).

Have to careful when it really gets going though...I've seen people, especially tourists take some nasty hits, followed with the arrival of an ambulance. This guy will feel it:

 

[Shannow]

windnsea00, A few years ago I managed to break 4 ribs on a boogy board in 2 feet of water.

I don't envy that guy's landing.

 

[windnsea00]

Quote:

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windnsea00, A few years ago I managed to break 4 ribs on a boogy board in 2 feet of water.

I don't envy that guy's landing.

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Ouch. Yea, shorebreak can be dangerous!

 

[alreadygone]

Spend every weekend at the lake in the water when water temp is 80deg and up. CANNOT swim! As others have mentioned, I sink like a rock.

Bob

 

[moribundman]

Catch a few coots and make a life raft.

How does anybody sink like rock in water? It's not possible! As long as your lungs are inflated you will float. Just make sure your face is up.

 

[alreadygone]

"Catch a few coots and make a life raft. "

Think I did have Cooties once!

Bob