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The transformation is fast: on the feet a fin and up to the hips a fish tail covered with scintillating scales. Already, the girls will be mermaids at the Bruggwiesen indoor pool in Opfikon ZH.
One last time, the mythical creatures take the air, then they plunge. Head in front. The rhinestoned caudal fin briefly beats on the surface of the water and disappears immediately in the world of Arielle. Mermaiding is the name of the swimming form, which makes the hearts of princesses underwater around the world, but also many Neptune, beat faster. Invented by a diving instructor in the Philippines, the fin costume in Switzerland inspires thousands of kids.
"It's wonderful to swim with the flapper suit," says Lia, 8, still out of breath. "Simply great," adds Celine, 8, then slips into the depths. Unlike the tale of Hans Christian Andersen, the mermaids of the basin have voices. They chat for joy. "It's like I really had no more legs," says Elodie, 8.
"It's important that children are properly guided." Flavio Seeberger, Training Officer
With ten other girls, she takes an introductory course in the siren swim organized by Cristina Würgler. The swimming instructor has recognized the potential of Mermaiding as one of the first in this country. "The combination of weightlessness and the glittering world is the charm," says Würgler. Four years ago, she began teaching a handful of children, today more than 2,500 people throughout Switzerland attend classes every year and there are more and more of them. students. Although there are some mermaid schools, but not enough. Bubble Swim Lessons Nina Pauli, who offers them in different cantons, barely bid, are already complete.
The Swimsports Association has now responded and trained with instructors Cristina Würgler Mermaid. Twelve completed their training in April. "It is important that children are properly guided," explains Flavio Seeberger, Training Manager
. For the movements of multicolored fish tails to be light and fluid, it takes strength and technology to dive into the imaginary world. Make it difficult for beginners: The diving phase is long. "There is a risk that children will be stressed in the deep water – also because the legs are stuck in a tight bath robe tube and that it's not possible to give kicks, "said Seeberger.
The impact of the fin suit on diving and swimming has been studied by Australian researchers. Their conclusion: The more the sirens are young, the more difficult they are. And with all children, buoyancy is reduced by 70%. Therefore, in Western Australia, it can only act as a siren that can swim 50 meters and is at least ten years old.
The pleasure of the fins is only suitable for good swimmers
At Cristina Würgler Six-year-olds in costume – they can swim well. This is tested by the teacher before the start of the course. "Buoyancy is not age-related," she says. Nevertheless, Würgler would be happy if there were Swiss recommendations. Swimsports is currently working on it. At least, it is necessary that a child can stay afloat with different arm techniques alone. Mermaids swimming for children under six and in open water such as lakes or rivers consider swimming sports to be inadequate.
The Accident Prevention Council (BfU) and the SLRG support the preparation of these recommendations. However, the SLRG would go a step further and, according to the Australian model, would allow the fins to swim only from the age of 10 years. In particular, drowning in children is the second most common cause of death. Three children are in the water each year. "A child can drown and drown in less than 20 seconds – almost always silently," says Philipp Binaghi of the SLRG. Therefore, in the pool or in the pool always an adult person should supervise the sirens. To date, the BfU has not recorded any fatal swimming accidents in which a fishtail suit has played a role. Nevertheless, she advises to use such siren fins only in a safe environment.
In some indoor and outdoor pools, there is a ban on sipping for safety reasons. However, uniform regulation is missing. For example, costumes in the lake and river baths of the Zurich Sports Bureau and in pools where children can not stand are forbidden. And in the baths of the Sports Office Bern the fins are not allowed. However, it is at the discretion of the rescuer to allow exceptions. For example, if space allows it.
The trend could become even more popular
Thomas Reutener, General Manager of the Association of Indoor and Outdoor Pools, says: "There are the most diverse baths in Switzerland. It is up to the operator to impose a ban depending on the situation. "He advises however to practice Mermaiding only in closed areas, because the fins can also disturb or hit other swimmers.
Reutener think that swimming in a mermaid costume will become even more popular as there will be more Mermaid instructors in the future.That's what Cristina Würgler is. During the course she designs and sells fishtail games for 149 francs for two years. "Since there were not enough sturdy materials, we continued to develop the products ourselves," she says. Its company Mjss, based in Greifensee ZH, now sells centas palm in a year, and the trend is up.
Tired, but with great desire, Elodie comes out of the underwater world of Opfikon: a mermaid costume. "Unfortunately, I just have a birthday."
(SonntagsZeitung)
Creation date: 07.07.2018, 22:37
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