• Germany edition
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.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA

SAP to hire hundreds of autistic IT experts

German tech company SAP said on Tuesday it wants to hire hundreds of people with autism to work as software testers and programmers. The search has, it said, begun for people “who think differently from others.” READ () »

Photo: DPA

States to toughen laws on drunken cycling

German state interior ministers are hashing out a plan to lower the amount of alcohol cyclists can legally consume before getting on their bikes. The measures come as figures show one in 10 bike accidents are the result of drunk riders. READ () »

Photo: DPA

The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek dies at 74

Ray Manzarek, co-founder of legendary 1960s rock band The Doors and creator of their signature organ sound, died on Monday in Germany after a long battle with cancer, his manager said. He was 74. READ () »

Photo: Nike/DPA

England fans decry 'German' football jersey

The new jersey for England’s national football team has sparked the ire of English fans for looking too much like the kit archrivals Germany wore when they won the World Cup in 1974. READ () »

My German Career
Photo: Graham Appleby

'My friends call me travelling x-ray salesman'

In the latest installment of My German Career, The Local spoke with New Zealander physicist Graham Appleby about Hamburg's high intensity x-ray beams and life in Germany's scientific community. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Germany seeks 'visible' Kosovo-Serbia progress

Germany has called for "visible" progress in implementing a landmark deal between Serbia and Kosovo before securing Berlin's backing for Belgrade's bid to join the European Union. READ () »

Photo: DPA

Cooler and wetter week ahead

Rain in the west, sunshine in the east - Germany's weather was divided on Monday, as the German Weather Service (DWD) warned of an unsettled week ahead. READ () »

Photo: DPA

20,000 Goths gather in Leipzig

More than 20,000 Goths from all over the world gathered in Leipzig in eastern Germany over the Whitsun weekend to celebrate all things dark and Gothic. READ () »

More Society
RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
Highlights
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
20,000 Goths gather in Leipzig
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Harmless pink fun or a bad influence on young girls? A life-size Barbie dream house attraction opened in Berlin to protests including a topless woman burning a doll in effigy.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
At his final heartbeat I knew I had to act. Our German of the Week is Tina K., who, after her brother was beaten to death, has been campaigning for an end to street violence in Berlin.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
The Local List: Ten German words with double meanings
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
The Local's English-language movie listings for Germany
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Conflict is part of the fabric of Berlin, but the city's "Peacemaker" soothes things over. Jessica Ware tracked him down for a chat.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
It might be politically toxic, but it's time to hit the brakes on Germany's reckless driving culture, argues The Local's Ben Knight.
Photo: M&S
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Move over Berlin: why London is Germany's new fashion capital
Photo: Private
OPINION »
For this edition of My German Career, former US military man turned armed guard Keith Alban talks about leaving home in search of a better quality of life.
Photo: Katie Needs
SOCIETY »
Offseason, Germany's largest island Rügen might not top many peoples' list of dream holidays. But as The Local discovered, its quiet beauty makes it worth a trip to escape city bustle.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Confused about the hundreds of euros missing from your pay packet? Don't panic - the latest in The Local's JobTalk series looks at German social security payments.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Is that your Handy ringing? This week's Local List takes a look at 12 misused English words in German.
Photo: A Peoples' Picture
LIFESTYLE »
An American is stirring up creative spontaneity in Dresden by leaving disposable cameras around for strangers' use, before collecting them and displaying the results online.
Photo: Private
LIFESTYLE »
After it was revealed that Angela Merkel had a Polish grandfather, Matthew Luxmoore set out to find where she could connect to her roots in Berlin's sizable Polish community.
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
Why isn't everyone wearing Lederhosen? It's easy for foreigners to stereotype Germany, but this week's Local List is dedicated to debunking common myths.
Photo: Private
OPINION »
The last time Si Liberman saw Berlin, he was thousands of feet in the air on a US bombing raid over Nazi Germany. Nearly seven decades later, he returned to the city.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
What are the hidden rules of etiquette foreigners need to watch out for while doing business in Germany? The Local's JobTalk series has tips for keeping on the right side of your colleagues.
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
All of The Local's 'Germans of the Week' so far
Photo: DPA
NATIONAL »
Every town and city from The Local's My Germany series
Furniture Leasing Corporation
SPONSORED ARTICLE
The furniture-free way to relocate to Germany
Photo: Henrik Trygg/imagebank.sweden.se
SPONSORED ARTICLE
Top five reasons to enrol on an Executive MBA



Latest news from The Local in France

More news from France at thelocal.fr

Latest news from The Local in Norway

More news from Norway at thelocal.no

Latest news from The Local in Sweden

More news from Sweden at thelocal.se

Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

816 jobs available
600 new jobs this week
117 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!
Little house in Spain
'Charming, old, beamed cottage for holiday let in Jesus Pobre, Alicante, Spain
www.littlehouseinspain.com/
Albatross Insurance
Professional and qualified consultancy on all insurance and finance matters in Germany, Telephone: +49 2163 571 1740, Email: bg@albatross-assurance.com
www.albatross-assurance.com
Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.