Skinny dippers bare it all for record

Thousands of people across North America put on their birthday suits and jumped in the pool, all with hopes of a world record. The American Association for Nude Recreation and the Naturist Society sponsored an attempt at the Guinness world record for most people skinny dipping in one day. “There were 14,110 people all across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico and now this is the fifth anniversary,” said Tom Mulhall, the owner of the Terra Cotta Inn, a clothing-optional resort and spa.

The Terra Cotta Inn served as the official location in Palm Springs for the record. People stripped down at more than 100 locations in North America. It’s an easy sell for Llew Howell. “Hey, who doesn’t want to be in the Guinness book of world records?” said Howell. “It’s nice to be in there for this particular occasion and this particular cause.”

A cause Llew and his wife Suzy found a passion for more than twenty years ago. The nudists say being in the buff isn’t about making waves with your physical appearance, it’s about taking off the blinders and letting the real you out. “It just really doesn’t have a lot to do with the fact that you’re not wearing clothing,” said Suzy.

Suzy also wants to wade through some of the things people think about a life au natural. “The biggest misconception is that somehow it’s a sexual experience and it really isn’t,” said Howell. It’s actually quite freeing.”

The Terra Cotta Inn contributed 38 skinny dippers towards the record. Mulhall says they won’t know if they made history for about a month. But for now, sending a clear message about their lifestyle is enough of a victory. “We’re just regular, normal, nice people,” said Mulhall. “We just enjoy life on our vacations without clothes.”