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.

Aren't watersports messy?

So, the dam is about to be breached and the flood is on its way...where do you play? There is no doubt about it - watersports are messy. There is a generally accepted level of wetness that comes with sex but if you’re going to play with pee, remember that you’re going to blow that out of the water. Because of this, watersports aren’t generally considered a bedroom activity (although there are great products for more advanced piss players). Instead, one of the sexiest spots to enjoy watersports is in the shower or bath. All the pleasure of pee play, no worries about clean up! The shower is an exceptional place to begin your pee adventures. If, it turns out, you don’t get off on pee, the shower quickly washes it all away. And those who love it can quickly towel off and move on to different pleasures when empty.

Watersports and Kink

Watersports can be both a casual sensation involving feeling and tasting urine or it can be part of much more involved desires. The act of urinating can be both a very dominating and submissive behavior, and incorporating it into BDSM activities can be a watershed moment. One of the strongest associations with BDSM is the potential for humiliation play. Beyond a sexual context, pissing on something is generally considered to be marking territory. Now, taking that mentality into a humiliation scene could be quite hot. The Top, the person pissing, can both claim and belittle the bottom, who receives and becomes property. Watersports also offers the potential for role play, adoration and more. These are some powerful and intoxicating dynamics that, when boundaries are clearly established, could be intense and awesome.

Understandably, watersports might be a little much for some people. Not everybody is going to be into every kink. However, the reaction to the Trump allegation did reveal some of the prevailing negative attitudes people still have about fetishes, something Luna would love to mythbust.

“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.”