As we approach the final days of the 2014 Pan Pacs on Australia’s magnificent Gold Coast, we thought it best to brush up on our Aussie lingo, and who better to help us than iconic local swimwear labels Funky Trunks and Funkita.
- Don’t get your thongs mixed up. Aussie thongs are very different from the thongs a wannabe Hollywood starlet would wear to the beach. So don’t get offended if someone suggests you’d be more comfortable in some nice thongs while Down Under…
Lucia wearing thongs…on her feet.
- Togs and cozzies are names the Aussies give swimwear or of course there’s funkys, the bright and colorful Funky Trunks and Funkita togs that can be seen all over Queensland’s pool decks. Tell a local that you love their togs and you’ll have a mate for life.
Lucia looking great in her Funkita togs.
- Biters and stingers are a regular fixture on the Aussie landscape. Pay special attention to the watery ones when at the beach, with signs pointing out the danger zones. Then when you are out of the water, make sure you have some repellent on hand for those ‘bloody mozzies’.
Look out for stingers and biters when taking a dip.
- Kicking back could very well be a swim set, but Down Under it means you’re on a towel, on the beach, enjoying some well earned down time from training. So tell the coach you’re going to kick back for an hour, before you head to the beach!
Lucia doing a great job kicking back.
- Slip, slop, slap. It’s an Aussie slogan to cover up from the sun which is intense Down Under (they have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world). So when you’re out of the water remember to slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat.
Cover up under the sun when Down Under.
A special thanks to Funkita athlete Lucia Lassman for showing us around the beautiful Burleigh Heads beach on the Gold Coast. The 16 year old trains at Miami under the famed Dennis Cotterell and already has individual and relay national age titles under her belt, with her sights set on making the Australian Olympic team.
To have the best looking cozzies on pool deck grab your own Funky Trunks and Funkitas! SwimSwam readers can receive a massive 25% discount when shopping at either www.funkytrunks.com or www.funkita.com by using the code SWIMSWAM.
Swimming News courtesy of Funky Trunks.