Lifguards and their Uniforms

[frankjath]

Hi guys I know its been a while since I posted something on here. Well the summer is coming to a close here in San Diego even though it does not feel like it as it was in the 80s - 90s today, even through the night. I had such a great night with my sis we went to see Ron Pope and Meghan Tonjes it was a really good show. Now I am sitting in my comphy bed typing this post. I want to bring up the topic of Lifguard uniforms for men which I am sure has been touch on before here on the forum, I am sorry if it has. Over the summer I went to the beach a lot and living in San Diego my whole life I don't think I have ever seen a lifegurad wear a speedo, they wear long bagy boardshorts. Wouldn't it make more since for lifeguards to wear speedo swimwear like profesional swimmers. I would think boardshorts would be a drag when trying to get to someone fast. What are your guys thoughts? Hope all is well.

- Frank

[California Dolphin]

Boardie shorts are totally useless as a swim suit and more appropriately should be called a "drowning suit".

Any serious swimmer (such as a lifeguard) should never go in the water wearing one.

CD

[SwimTeamSpeedo]

With the decreased popularity of brief style swimwear (even in places like Australia) I suspect it would be nearly impossible to find enough guys willing to wear them openly. I guarded in college and wore a racing brief suit, but I was the only one who did (and some of the guys who also were guards were on my same swim team). Adding to the problem is that even if a guy wanted to wear a swim brief, a lot of pools have required uniforms (red shorts, etc) and do not even allow a Speedo option. I was reading the lifeguard rules at the pool I work out at (where the guys wear red or blue Nylon shorts) and not only did it not give them an option, it even forbid wearing them openly, but did recommend/suggest them to be worn under the shorts.

[JohnC]

I think the problem is regional - also, I don't mean to contradict what has been written, and the following applies to swimming pools, not beaches.

This summer I swam at the county park pool near Pittsburgh. Many of the lifeguards wore speedos under their shorts and would swim laps in just their speedos. I saw a couple of them walk from the guard's room, the length of the pool deck to the lap lanes. Also, I saw a few change in and out of their shorts on the pool deck.

I swam at this pool only in August. I got pretty comfortable swimming in my small suit and saw a few other guys other than life guards as well in small suits.

Unfortunately sometimes young girls blurt out "eww." Most of the people at the pool are their to wade in the shallow end and those of us who wear proper swimwear are still in the minority. They have a water slide, but no time clock.

I also go to a swim practice at an indoor pool and there is a group of college age guys swimming laps in speedos.

You are right - I have not seen speedos worn as uniforms - but I have seen them worn underneath. I just want to point this out so we don't spread the idea that nobody wears small suits.

[dd-bos]

I think the problem is regional - also, I don't mean to contradict what has been written, and the following applies to swimming pools, not beaches.

This summer I swam at the county park pool near Pittsburgh. Many of the lifeguards wore speedos under their shorts and would swim laps in just their speedos. I saw a couple of them walk from the guard's room, the length of the pool deck to the lap lanes. Also, I saw a few change in and out of their shorts on the pool deck.

I swam at this pool only in August. I got pretty comfortable swimming in my small suit and saw a few other guys other than life guards as well in small suits.

Unfortunately sometimes young girls blurt out "eww." Most of the people at the pool are their to wade in the shallow end and those of us who wear proper swimwear are still in the minority. They have a water slide, but no time clock.

I also go to a swim practice at an indoor pool and there is a group of college age guys swimming laps in speedos.

You are right - I have not seen speedos worn as uniforms - but I have seen them worn underneath. I just want to point this out so we don't spread the idea that nobody wears small suits.

I noticed that most of the lifeguards on the beaches up here, in conservative New England, wear speedos underneath their red board shorts. Usually black, and you only get a peak/hint at the top, but damn is it tantalizing!!

[Justin88]

The guards at the beaches here in South Florda wear board shorts. It's the same at pools, even the big aquatic complex in Fort Lauderdale. Some times if their suits are loose you can see they have speedos underneath. The board shorts are usually red and some say "Guard" on them. I've seen old pics of Florida where the guards wore speeds but not now.

I've seen some rescues at the beach. They use a big surfboard. I've never seen a guard jump in the water to help someone at a pool. A lot of pools have a hook thing on the end of a long pole to fish people out of the water I guess. I've never seen them use that.

I drove by the beach today and saw some guys (not guards) in lycra jammers.

There were some pics on flickr of the FtL aquatic complex in the seventies. Lots of guys in speedos. But I can't find them now.

[beach bum]

I'm a surf life saver in Western Australia, and I always wear speedos in the water. Granted, we all basically have the same uniforms throughout Australia - yellow long sleeved cotton shirt and red shorts, but surf life savers are more than welcome to ditch the shorts and shirt when in the water (even out of it really).

I'm pretty lucky that I patrol at a speedo friendly beach, it's really a non-issue there. A lot of the surf lifesaving guys swim in speedos on patrol (and off), so it's pretty good alround. The red shorts are useless in the water - they rise up and look like clown pants in the ocean!

[frankjath]

Hi guys what a great thread thanks for all the replies. While most guys on the beaches of so cal don't wear speedos, I am pretty much the minority but I have never had a negative comment, it has been a non issue. Although I think the jammer is gaining popularity among American men. This just might be the right step in the right direction because guys will become more comfortable wearing a form fitting suit.

[Justin88]

...Although I think the jammer is gaining popularity among American men. This just might be the right step in the right direction because guys will become more comfortable wearing a form fitting suit.

I think you're right...a U.S. jammer is sort of a center seam high cut speedo with legs(they fit kind of awful....) The Asian jammers really are a speedo (lo cut) with legs and fit awesome. (TYR makes an almost Asian cut jammer for about US$60) Anyway...like speedos... jammers can fit tight and show off your package and butt. Once guys get used to that they may go to a speedo or at least a lycra square cut. Guys are wearing skinny jeans now...so things can change...

[California Dolphin]

I hate the weird look and feel of jammers.

They're look just plain awful and nothing more than a streamlined version of boardies and the "leg veil" theme.

[Justin88]

Speedos are the best but jammers are way better than board shorts for swimming... Board shorts have way too much cloth flopping around in the water.

[budgybloke]

Next weekend I start training to become a surf life saver. Although the main reason was to contribute in some way to the community as a volunteer, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking also forward to patrolling a Sydney beach filled with hot fellas in speedos this summer.

[Justin88]

Next weekend I start training to become a surf life saver. Although the main reason was to contribute in some way to the community as a volunteer, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking also forward to patrolling a Sydney beach filled with hot fellas in speedos this summer.

And we all want to see a pic of you in your life saver suit!!

[Durbanite]

It's a fashion cycle...now we're seeing tight jeans on the comeback and youngster who used to wear buggy jeans are the ones to wear tight jeans...not sure if its a rebellion thing in the sense that when you are growing up you do the opposite to your parents, animal instinct I guess.

I also believe the influence from conservative woman in fashion has possibly been the biggest driving force of being non brief type swimwear critics, my word to them is to catch a wake fast or please go and die, have no time for fashion critics cos I wear what I feel comfortable in and don’t give hoot.

I might be treading on toes here but I don’t give a damn, I also firmly believe religious idiots have a big part in all this, as I'm a out and proud atheist my advise is to stop interfering in peoples lives, its bad enough when a few bad preachers meddle with young boys and girls and screw up their lives for ever.

I also have a big issue when it comes to all religions, the Muslim faith is very questionable along with Jehovah witnesses.

As a free radical thinker this whole issue of domination by people in genreal life or those with some sort of questionable power, goverments charches etc boils my blood and at times I wish the human race would vanish in a flash...phew that feels better.