Interesting poll Porto.
As one of the "offenders" from Hobart, I have pretty strong views on this subject. Everyone is different and have varying comfort levels. Personally, I feel the heat once it gets over 16 degrees. I know I'm a bit of a polar bear in that sense and I don't expect everyone else to fit in with my comfort zone but nor should everyone else expect me to fit neatly into their ideas of what acceptable is. I wore shorts every day in Hobart except for when I was required to wear slacks for Rachuig. The NT and NQ guys, on the other hand, wore slacks, jumpers and ski parkas every day. Who's right, and who's wrong? Nobody, just varying comfort zones.
For the last 8 years in Washington, I wore shorts and golf shirts to work every day, winter or summer. This was not standard dress code for Embassy employees, but once I convinced the Boss that I was much more comfortable and therefore more productive he let me go and as a result, I enjoyed my work, did a great job for the Embassy and was happy to stay there for 8 years. Now that I'm back here, wearing my "uniform" to work every day, I'm hot, uncomfortable and really dislike coming to work. So much so, that I'm seriously considering changing jobs just so I can wear more comfortable attire to work.
Same goes for bowling. I feel the heat very badly and sweat rather profusely, but especially when the wearing of slacks is compulsory. Bowling in Darwin at Arafura nearly wiped me out. I agree that tailored slacks and collared shirts should be the norm for Rachuig and perhaps even nationally ranked tournaments, but for league and local derbies, who cares. No one is going to say, "I'm not going to bowl in the city championships if they let people bowl in shorts", more than likely, you'll get people like me that say, hey I might bowl in that because I can wear shorts and be comfortable. For all you people that don't sweat and can wear heavyweight materials all day while bowling, I'm very envious and I wish I could do the same, but my body type is far different to yours. The only time I have ever been comfortable bowling in slacks was at the National Bowling Stadium in Reno during the US nationals where the A/C was very efficient. Sadly that is the exception rather than the rule. Most A/C units in bowling centres worldwide are crappy at best.
I understand that I am a bit of an anomaly, and I've dealt with my discomfort most of my life, but I will say that it has always annoyed me that women get to bowl in shorts, skirts, skorts or whatever and the men have been forced to wear long pants. Make it fair for everyone and have a bit of consideration for the folks that feel the heat out there. Imagine if there was a rule that said you couldn't wear long pants or a jumper until the temperature dropped below 5 degrees and tell me whether you would still bowl in that tournament?
I know I've been rambling, and most of you probably haven't even read this far but as I said at the beginning, I feel very strongly on this subject.
In conclusion, I wholeheartedly think that Men should be allowed to wear shorts during tournament play, except for uniform events such as Rachuig, and televised events (if we even have those anymore). By all means, set a standard, but spell it out in plain English so that everyone knows. Tailored shorts only, no denim etc policy. Comfort and skill should be the focus here, not who looks the best and can survive the heat the longest. I know we are trying to raise the profile and level of professionalism of the sport, but the problems lie far deeper than what bowlers are wearing in tournaments.
Jan (The Polar Bear) Nordin
lol
