Opening the Floodgates: Now We Can Talk About Watersports

The pipes have burst. The river is overflowing. The tap is dripping. Ever since the world was introduced to the possibility that Donald Trump, the newly minted President of the United States, just might be interested in a particularly taboo sexual practice, it has become a buzzword of epic sexual proportions. Whether the stories are even true or not is immaterial. Who would have ever thought that watersports would become a trending hashtag - especially considering many people don’t even really know what it is?

We’ve seen this sort of thing before - call it the Fifty Shades Effect - when pop and sexual cultures collide, there can be positive aspects and negative ones. On the good side is the generation of conversation and discovery that flows out of curiosity. People talk, people learn, people play (or not). Unfortunately, sometimes, the discussions are also soaked with misinformation or negative bias that influences or shames people out of trying something.So, what are watersports anyway?

Watersports, also known as urine/pee/piss play and golden showers, refer to sexual activities that involve urination. This could mean you doing the peeing or someone else peeing. The extent to which you get involved with the piss is varied. Some people just like to watch another urinate, others want to be peed on. Some folks take this fun further by taking the piss in their mouth, while others enjoy further extremes by receiving pee into their vagina or anus. Watersports can also be used to explore power dynamics in BDSM scenarios and relationships.Why do people like watersports or golden showers?

In terms of sexual fun, watersports is often considered fairly unthinkable for most folks. But that just might be part of its appeal.

“I think what draws people to it is the taboo, the naughtiness,” suggests Luna Matatas. “We've been taught our entire lives about sanitation, largely to do with managing body waste – and for some of us, eroticizing urine feels exhilarating because it goes against all that.” Luna is a sex educator who includes urine play in her roster of workshops. Her favorite term for watersports is Golden Nectar.

Considering the historical context of waste elimination, Luna suggests that many folks, particularly those with vulvas, do not even know what peeing looks like, let alone the feel or taste of urine. Our collective agreement of privacy while we pee makes it a difficult interest to explore. However, we do know that sexual curiosities are often sparked by this type of situation. “There's the allure of the unknown and the potential to play with power and other emotions to bring pee into an erotic play space.”Is playing with pee even safe?

Once the seal of discussion about watersports has been broken, it often quickly moves to safety. Again, urine is a bodily waste and needs to be respected as such. However, if you and your partners are aware, pee play is quite safe. One misunderstanding that floats around when pee is brought up is that it is sterile. Yes, this is technically true, making splashing and ingesting safe activities. However, if any bacteria or pathogens exist in the urine, they can, potentially, be passed on through mucous membranes including the mouth, anus, vagina, eyes and open wounds. Communication of health risks is an important part of piss play. Keep that in mind and do your research if this is something you're into.

“Just like with other things in life, there's diversity in experience, approach and expectation. Fetish play is no different – some people have strong feelings (positive or negative) toward fetishes, others are open-minded and willing to try. Watersports is no different – things that may not be sexy in a non-erotic context can feel incredibly sexy when integrated into a sexy role play.”