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Pool Culture

Posted on June 30, 2010June 30, 2010 by Staff

By Josie Hollingsworth

The slap of a noodle. A long whistle blast. Splashing and laughter. The sounds of a neighborhood pool are the soundtrack to a summer in Carrboro.

Most prominent are the families with small kids. These noisy parties camp out in the sun with a cooler per person, their table littered with everything from playing cards to soggy goldfish, as one adult blows up a floatie.

Pool gossip is easily the juiciest – and while their children participate in swim team, parents are professionals in the rumor arena.

A joyful shriek emanates from a content 1-year-old in the baby pool. And pre-teen boys horseplay, as their female counterparts shout Top 40 songs at the top of their lungs.

Low-profile patrons are the loungers and lap-swimmers, whose tanning and peaceful, even strokes add a certain serenity to otherwise chaotic summer days. Older couples often stop by later in the evening to “split a lane” and enjoy time together once the water and air have cooled off.

From their shady table, the youth in red – the lifeguards – emerge. Whistle in practiced twirl, they saunter to the stand, sometimes with noticeable dread. Teen angst aside, there’s no doubting the benefits of being a lifeguard. One explains his job as “sitting, followed by more sitting.” Full pool membership and a new authority are perks to this summer job.

A major component of pool culture is swim team. Seven teams from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area actively participate. Morning and afternoon practices give structure and activity to the swimmers, aged 4 to 18. Swim meets prove to be feats of organization for coaches and parents, who somehow get hundreds of kids through multiple individual events and relays without losing a few to the crowd.

When asked about swim meets, one swimmer reminisces about her favorite part: “The candy was the best.” Ring pops and jumbo pixie sticks are provided by the poolside snack bars, and some have now added salads and homemade creations to their menus. The newest chef at Mr. Cool’s Snack Bar in Heritage Hills has begun incorporating local produce into the veggie sandwich. Swimmers get cravings and requests get eccentric. One boy insists on a half white-half wheat grilled cheese, and a weary mom can’t comprehend the absence of an in-pool bar.

Smells of chlorine, summer flowers and the last waft from the Snack Bar grill mix to create a unique aroma that has an odd calming effect on pool-goers. The closing of the pool at the end of the day holds promise for another day of fun.

1 thought on “Pool Culture”

  1. Dona DeZube says:
    July 10, 2010 at 6:01 pm

    Hollingsworth caputres the pool exactly the way I remember it from when I was a kid at swim team 20 years ago. What a great feature.

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