I just read Cyd's piece on conquering his fear of the water & learning to swim.

Unfortunately for me, I'm still struggling with this, somewhat. While I will go to pools & the beach, I haven't gotten up the courage to learn how to swim as yet.

Pools I'll duck my head under water etc but not at the bach, no way. I won't even venture from shore.

Like Cyd, my father once tried teaching me how to swim and I kicked & screamed until he took me back to teh edge of the pool.

When I was 16 years old, he took me tubing on some river in CT w/some friends of him. After we almost reached the area where we would have our picnic, I looked down, saw the bottom of the river and jumped off the tube. Of course, I started to sink to the bottom of the river. Someone had to "save me" and I was so embarassed.

I never forgot this. One of these days, I will conquer this fear and not be jealous when my friends are having a good ole time in the pool or at the beach.

Does the city you live in, or one nearby, have public pools? They should have swimming classes for adults there. It's easy to learn, honest, and once you get the hang of it, you'll love it.

I went to a pool party this past weekend and I had a great time swimming in a lovely heated pool (it was cloudy and cool outside). It's also great excercise, non-punishing on the joints and tendons and ligaments for the most part. There's a reason that swimmers have the bodies they do.

More power to those of you conquering your swimming fears or thinking about conquering your swimming fears.

I have a good friend who couldn't swim. I ordered her to learn how. "But why?" she whined. "Because you never know when you might fall in the water. Do you *want* to drown?" She learned that summer. She'll never compete in the Olympics, but she won't drown either.

Me too.

I had hired a swim instructor one summer in college, but she got a scholarship for the next year and had to cut the lessons in half.

She was so kind, and such a good instructor that I practically cried at having to lose her.

I love the water, and one day, I would like to be able to swim well.

The following comments were posted in a duplicate thread:

mikestead posted:

Comrades:

What do you think of Cyd's story today (Tuesday) about learning to swim?

His story was amusing. Although I am a pretty good swimmer, I can relate to his fear of humilation! I was surprised that even a college jock like Cyd has these feelings! I assumed that college jocks got rid of these feelings a long time ago - before middle school!

I know that it must be hard to take swimming lessons with small children in your class! I thought that there would be "all-adult beginning swimming classes" available.

This brings up a good topic for gay swim teams. Once in a while, some people ask gay swim teams if they offer beginning swimming lessons. We were approached several times here in Chicago. Usually we have no time (and probably no patience, either) to offer beginning swimming classes! We are too busy doing our 4000 meter workouts with complicated sets such as 400 meter freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 breaststroke and 400 backstroke (repeat this 4 times!).

However, Cyd's story brings up this issue. It seems that the West Hollywood Aquatics didn't offer beginning swimming lessons - but there is a need for all-adult beginning swim classes, and it would make a good public service opportunity for gay swim teams.

Now, the next thing Cyd has to do is to wear a Speedo! We all want pictures!


Joe in Philly replied:

It was a good story, and I'm sure Cyd would appreciate this thread being placed in "Hot Jock Talk." Bring on the "Cyd in Speedos" photospread!




Adam replied:

Though Cyd is far too young for this suggestion, many senior centers offer swimming for beginners. They rent time at local Y's and teach people in that ageset the basics. Often, seniors are encouraged to start swimming to alleviate arthritis pains.


And, I really enjoyed the column. Being in class with kids is odd--when I learned to ski a few years back, I was the only person in my group who could vote! When those kids out-skiied me, it was a real incentive to improve.


Allen replied:

Guys ... I understand everything that Cyd said. I am still terrified of being in water. I do not know why and I know it is all mental. I had my head pushed into the water and held down by some kid in the swimming pool when I was really little. So that kinda freaked me out. I did take swimming lessons, but when my teacher, trying to be supportive, told me that I sure can sink well.

I would have rather worked out in the fields with my Dad on the farm than go to swimming lessons. I failed twice beacause the teacher did not like the way I back floated. That's it. I did everything right, even CPR, however, they hated my back float.

So, I stopped taking swimming lessons. Now, I want to face my fears, however, time commitment is a big thing for me. Unlike Cyd, I'm not afraid to wear a Speedo.

Hey, I'm proud that Cyd faced his fears. I hope I can face mine soon.


George_vikingfan replied:

Swimming is just one of those things I guess I just take for granted as an adult. I have alot of respect for anyone who is willing to learn especially when it means having to feel a bit foolish in a class of youngsters. Congratulations to Cyd! And good luck Allen and Kiperoni! Hopefully you'll be able to draw some motivation from Cyd's story and conquer your fears.


Joe in Philly replied:

Once everyone learns to swim, you know what's next..... Outsports Beach Party!! wink

[ June 11, 2003, 06:16 AM: Message edited by: m1 ]

See my theory is to those who cant swim, is to gain weight because fat floats. I am pretty hefty and have always been big since I was a kid. And I have no problem swimming. Of course my mother made me go to swim classes when I was 7 at the YMCA.
But seriously, why not just start out in the 3 foot section and try and float. Floating is the beginning step anyway. If you can do that then youre on your way. And you wont drown in a 3 foot section of water unless youre realllly trying to die.

For me as well, swimming is a challenge. In college we were required to pass a swimming test or to take a swimming class. I tried the class my first semester as a freshman, dropped it when the cold weather hit(the class was at 8am) and then waited til my last semester as a senior to fulfill the requirement. Funny thing, I got an A in the class but still think I'm a poor swimmer.(It's a proper breathing issue.) Now I go sailing and just pray that the boat doesn't flip over, my boyfriend would rescue the boat first I fear.
Recently at my gym, I saw the most gorgeous man in a Speedo and inquired if he were an instructor, and he is--aqua-aerobics, so as soon as I have a free weekend, I'm going to join the seniors in the pool and see what this Adonis is about. And maybe start swimming lessons again.

"Recently at my gym, I saw the most gorgeous man in a Speedo and inquired if he were an instructor, and he is--aqua-aerobics, so as soon as I have a free weekend, I'm going to join the seniors in the pool and see what this Adonis is about. And maybe start swimming lessons again.

Smile, Shore: wink

No, water aerobics is not like swimming. It is more like aerobics in water and aerobics makes you stay in one place of the pool most of the time. Aqua-aerobics is good exercise, but it isn't swimming though.

Since you completed a swimming course in college, I think that you have already done the hardest part. I suggest that you start to swim a few laps (note: one lap is a round-trip swim from the shallow end to the deep end of the pool and then back to the shallow end! One lap is NOT an one way trip across the pool!).

The few laps will help you improve your breathing issue over time. Swim a few laps twice or three times a week. Then in a month, you will be breathing much better so you can add more laps every time.

That is how I first started. I started to swim regularly in my 30's and I remember that I could swim only three laps at once! Two years later, I was able to swim 30 laps (1500 yards) at once. One more year later, I completed a program of swimming 50 miles over four months.

It all started with a swim workout with only three laps! smile

When I joined a masters swim team (the gay Chicago swim team); it was really more difficult and much more faster - but I have held on for three years.

Mikestead

Now I'm going to really have to learn how to swim. Think group or private lessons are better???

Kiperoni:

It depends on your attitude toward the water. If you have a deep phobia of water and if you simply freak out standing in three feet of water - you would need private lessons. That could happen with a traumatic experience with water when you were much younger. You would need more individual attention and extra weeks to overcome your deep-seated fear - before you can learn the basic swim strokes.

Group lessons or swimming classes are good for people who do not fear water itself and who simply haven't learned how to swim yet! In the light of Cyd's experience, be sure to sign up for an all-adult swimming class - and you will make new friends!

Mikestead

I'm a strange case, yes in more ways than one, but really strange because Ive worked on the ocean for 11 years, love to play on the water and get in the water, but when I get in over my head I become an uncoordinated clutz and cant float on my own. I always use some type of life jacket or something, or love kayaking or even those little plastic canoes. Ive always really wanted to learn to swim but just have never commited the time. When I was a kid different family reasons never let me finish my lessons, since then different people have tried to teach me and I can only imagine how funny I must look. One time my ex was trying to teach me and I thought I was starting to get it, I got in the deep end of the pool on my own and sank, he had to come save me, it was kind of a hot experience. But anyway everyone else wanted to teach me and he was like there's no way your gonna teach him. Anyway I'll get it one of these days.

Growing up i Hawaii, I learned by my mother taking me into the ocean when I was a baby. Swimming is a great way to relax and unwind. It can be very romantic with the right pweon too. Swimming lessons is a great idea. Hopefully you can have a private lesson. Trying to learn to swim in a cowded pool can be a bit intimidating. If you're lucky, you can get a cute lifeguard to give you private lessons and even CPR!

Good luck.

It always takes a cute guy!