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Society
Not designed for lady bits. Photo: Therme Erding

Women banned from water slide after 'injuries'

Published: 3 Aug 12 12:17 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20120803-44149.html

A German water park has banned women from a high-speed slide - claiming whooshing water was causing “intimate injuries”.

The park's manager told The Local the X-treme Faser slide was made men-only after several women complained of being hurt by water as they flung themselves down the slide, where people can reach speeds of 72 kmh.

Marcus Maier said six women had reported injuries to the genital area last year, and some of them had to be taken to hospital. No men have reported genital injuries, he said.

"These injuries are caused by the nature of the female anatomy," Maier told The Local.

But the Professional Association of Gynaecologists was sceptical. A spokeswoman said there was no medical reason why women shouldn't use such a slide - unless they were pregnant. She said she had never heard of women suffering waterslide-related vaginal injury.

Maier said few women have complained about the men-only policy.

"We are trying to do right by women; we don't want to discriminate against them," said the manager of Galaxy Rutschenparadies, which is part of the Therme Erding sauna complex near Munich.

Asked if the park had considered reworking the slide, Maier said it had never been seriously considered. The slide was new, he said, and reckoned it had cost up to €100,000 to build.

"We have some slides you can't go down unless you weigh 50 kilos - you could argue that's just as discriminating,” he said.

Still, there appears to be a glimmer of hope for female water slide enthusiasts: The park is working on building a protective suit for women to use on the slide. "Like for ice hockey," said Maier.

The Local/sh

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

14:04 August 3, 2012 by jsweeney
Hard to imagine a guy wouldn't get hurt too.
15:19 August 3, 2012 by zeddriver
What are these girls doing. Assuming the OBGYN posture on the way down. Close your legs or wear a proper swimsuit and ditch the bum floss suits.
15:42 August 3, 2012 by The-ex-pat
With some of the swim suits that can be seen, I would have thought that there is a greater chance of ingestion thus requiring a visit the gynaecologist to have them removed!!
19:58 August 3, 2012 by yuri_nahl
This is similar to injuries received from the "water jet" coming from jet skis. A horrendous enema. It's real! better wear lederhosen.
21:53 August 3, 2012 by 2 Replies
I believe the American comedian Greg Giraldo anticipated something similar... X-p
22:56 August 3, 2012 by wood artist
If women are complaining of injuries...and men are not...then it sounds like the park is doing the appropriate thing. Oddly, in the absence of specific complaints, I would have assumed men would be more vulnerable. Clearly the leader of the OBGYN society hasn't been talking to the hospitals where these "injured women" have been going.

wa
01:01 August 4, 2012 by yuri_nahl
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sankakucomplex.com%2F2012%2F06%2F27%2Fwoman-killed-by-jet-ski-enema%2F&ei=plccUPb7AqXZ0QGp44GwDw&usg=AFQjCNGOMHPGD_BNL7HoVD4VJ4-fwxC0rw&sig2=8judjcH56BLkiJ1E-W0rfw

JET SKI ENEMA
18:44 August 4, 2012 by Lisa Rusbridge
About 10 years ago I knew a couple who were in the business of selling custom designed spas and jacuzzis. The woman told me that there were request for the high powered spray jets in the most unusual places in the spas... Errrmm, strategically positioned for female satisfaction. They had a vulgar nickname for these carefully placed jets sprays. That aside, this couple made a small fortune in this business, so there must be something to it. It sounds like these water park jet sprays are the same, except super sonic in strength.
08:29 August 5, 2012 by Ozichick
I agree with zeddriver. Do they perhaps want to sue for a less than satisfactory thrill? They should buy a personal vibrator and stop spoiling the fun for others.
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