Biking in the buff

BY GAVIN SMITH

There was certainly a lot of cracking up, and only a tiny bit of frowning, when a group of naturists hit the Otago Central Rail Trail in the weekend.

And while enthusiastic naturists describe their lifestyle as the way to improve health and wellbeing, naturally, it must also help them cope with the cold, as the weekend weather was anything but summery.

However, the cold did not deter the group of almost 30 naturists, aged from 12 to 80, shed their clothes, uncovered their goosebumps, and wearing nothing but a smile and a crash helmet, set out to ride the trail.

Belonging to one of the 20 clubs affiliated to the New Zealand Naturist Federation, the riders, who came from as far as Kerikeri, were pleasantly surprised at the reception they received from others riding the trail.

The federation's communications officer Glenne Findon, from Napier, said only one Leg 1woman, who was accompanied by a group of children, muttered "disgusting" as she rode past, while a man at the tail of the group pursed his lips, and stared stoically ahead.

Everybody else was cheery and friendly, she said.

"Being a naturist is a wonderful, exhilarating, liberating experience," said the 60-year-old.

"You boost your vitamin D (the sun vitamin) and get a healthy tan, naturally and slowly.

"It's good for your relaxation and stress release, and for growing your self esteem and confidence as you learn to love your body."

Initially, and, understandably, people who came to the federation's open days were quite shy and self-conscious, but they quickly saw there were no absolutely perfect bodies, Ms Findon said.

Club activities focused on social activities like walking, swimming, playing sport, or just talking together, she said.

Accepting people as they are was another attribute that came Leg 2from naturism. "Stripped of their usual work clothing like a suit, work overalls, or an official uniform, you relate to a person as an individual, and not to some perceived status," Ms Findon said.

Asked where you look when you are talking to a naked person, Ms Findon said it was exactly the same as when you were talking with a clothed person.

"You look at the person's face and eyes. There's no difference in that regard."

As a policy, naturists are keen to exert their right to go naked when they can, but they are also conscious of not giving offence to anybody, she said.

"We enjoy our freedom to go clothes free whenever we can, but we wouldn't turn up naked at church."

The naturists have their own names for people who don't share their desire to go naked.

If you wear clothes, you are a "textile" and those people who go "perving" on nudists at beaches and similar places are called "meerkats".

- © Fairfax NZ News