Often I am asked how the ‘speedo culture’ is in Australia.
It is OK, at the pool everyone can wear speedos and nobody would look twice. If you were a lifeguard or part of the surf life saving club, nobody would look twice. I’m pretty sure ALL of my friends (who give the impression of being 100% str8) will own a pair of speedos to wear under their boardshorts. If I go for a swim in the surf in the morning nobody would care.
So with that in mind – I suppose the ‘speedo culture’ is acceptable.
BUT – there is always a but.
But, there is no way I’d just wear them if my mates were having a Sunday afternoon on the beach having a few drinks and playing beach cricket. I had a BBQ yesterday arvo at a mates place and he has a pool in his building complex – none of the guys would ever strip down to a speedo and have a dip in the pool. Saying that…. the same guys after a few drinks would strip naked and go for a swim.
Perhaps the Aussie ‘speedo culture’ is ironic. I’m sure if I hung out with a bunch of gay guys it would be different.
I would LOVE to be at the beach on a Saturday arvo and a game of beach volleyball starts up and all my mates are in speedos…..
8 Comments
Dr. Phil
As you know, the speedo culture in the U.S. is pretty hostile, i.e. they’re not well liked nor appreciated in many places. But fuck that!
I was in San Jose, CA last weekend, and was down at the pool at the hotel every morning. Not surprisingly, I was the only one in speedos…until a friend who had forgotten his swimsuit showed up, and I gave him one of my other speedos, which he then wore. Next year, I suspect there may be more…and I’ll do what I can to ensure there are, up to and including bringing more speedos for others to wear! 😉
Brad
Dr Phil I live in the US also and I know about the speedo culture. If I want my speedos I wear them about the only place I wear boardshorts is when I go to a water park. If we could just get DE to use his influence and get aussiebum to bring back a lime green bikini.
chispeedoguy
I wish speedos were more accepted here in the US, but for some reason the male form scares people, wasn’t like that whe I was younger. I still wear them at the beach and most pools, unless I am with my mother and siblings. I have worn square cuts to the water parks, though, with no compaints, or even odd looks from anyone.
MOsatyr
And nobody “would look twice.” I bet Dave looks more than twice! Maybe three of four times even. C’mon, Dave. Fess up. I bet you look plenty and then more.
I’d like to look at the guy in the pic all day long.
Bill
swimmerboy1212
I think it’s stupid how people feel about speedos in America. I think a lot of it has to do with homophobia and the insecure desire for nice clean lines between “masculinity” and “feminity”. I think we should be comfortable with however others choose to express themselves and celebrate diversity. I am so for speedos haha.
Darren
Why drag a pair of wet shorts through the water when swimming when you can wear a pair of brief speedos or even less in a thong. What is the point of going for a tan when so much of your body is covered when wearing shorts. Wear what you are comfortable with and to hell with those who do not like it.
Brad
Ok guys in the states, sounds like we all love are bikinis sooo why don’t we just start wearing them and stop bitchin. I looked I got 2 boardshorts and 27 bikinis mostly aussiebums. I have decided after reading these posts I am going to wear my aussies to the pool, waterpark, beaches anywhere I want to and the heck with what other people think or say. Maybe if enough of us did that it would help change peoples attitude, but I doubt it.
Paco
It’s always funny to see comments like yours ’cause here in Europe, as you probably know, nobody minds men wearing Speedos — it’a actually very common and lots of public swimming pools require that men wear Speedos and not shorts etc.
Well I’m probably not telling you anything new but I just wanted to take the opportunity to say hello from Europe… ¡Saludos desde Europa! 🙂