For those culture snobs who just don't understand the simple pleasures of planking, a new meme has come along just in time to combat the heat wave suffocating everyone between New York and Kansas: leisure diving.
Inspired by leisuredive.com, a website founded earlier this month by New Yorkers Alex Scott and John Lewis, the leisure dive involves launching one's self into a swimming pool while striking a chill mid-air pose for the camera. What Henri Cartier-Bresson would have no doubt recognized as a "decisive moment."
"The leisure dive speaks to a person who is extreme and yet, relaxed," the site explains to potential horizontal Louganises. And while there are no formal rules to the sport, Lewis and Scott do offer some suggestions to increase the degree of difficulty, including "one raised elbow, a killer leisure face," and "an item that indicates a leisurely attitude” (i.e., a Red Stripe, a White Russian, a James Patterson novel, or a croquet mallet.) The site also promises to post divers' best photographic submissions–so far it features leisure dives from the Hamptons to San Diego.
Unlike planking, which can be done year-round on seemingly any surface, leisure diving does require access to a pool and, ideally, warm weather, which could brand the pastime as slightly elitist.
Then again, unlike planking, it actually seems fun.
Though this leisure diver isn't attempting a particularly challenging dive, his form is exceptional. Note how the toes are pointed and how perfectly his body aligns with the wall. And, yes, it's real. As the website reminds users, "Leisure Dives are actual dives, not superimposed images. That would just be stupid."
Technique: 8.0
Degree of difficulty: 1.0
Huge style points here. The form may be a little undisciplined, but you try diving in a blue blazer and khakis, while holding a summer cocktail in your hand. And while the friends in the background are clearly in awe of the execution, John himself remains true to the leisure dive ethos: he is totally chillaxed.
Technique: 6.0
Degree of difficulty: 1.3
LeisureDive.com / WENN
Here, the form takes a backseat to the framing. Note how Michel, engrossed by an article, is perfectly positioned in the negative space created by his friends--guys who can't be bothered to look up from their Sunday papers to appreciate his leisure dive.
Technique: 5.4
Degree of difficulty: 1.4
LeisureDive.com / WENN
The meme of summer 2010, the Old Spice guy meets the meme of this summer. And though the right leg is slightly bent, the combination of the mellow facial expression, flexed bicep, and product placement elevate the overall score of this leisure dive.
Technique: 6.0
Degree of difficulty: 1.4
LeisureDive.com / WENN
Thanks to Title IX, leisure diving is not a male-only sport. Though Sarah's legs have a slight gap, her arm position, smile, and submerged shadow make this leisure dive a winner.
Technique: 5.5
Degree of difficulty: 1.0
LeisureDive.com / WENN
Two sports in one! The combination of leisure diving and croquet adds a touch of whimsy (and even more pointlessness) to this effort. And while the legs are tightly posed and the toes are perfectly pointed, the croquet mallet is nonchalantly resting on the shoulder. Leisurely indeed.
Technique: 6.8
Degree of difficulty: 1.4
LeisureDive.com / WENN
There's tremendous originality in this attempt, even if the form is a bit off. While John is effortlessly holding the watering can, his distance suggests that the flowers might get more precipitation in the splashdown.
Technique: 5.7
Degree difficulty: 1.5
Admittedly, the form is not consistent in this multi-performer leap, but it's leisure diving, not synchronized swimming. Note the variety of mellow poses (including, "Why would I remove my sunglasses?") and the excellent amplitude on the back row. Well done, bros.
Technique: 6.3
Degree of difficulty: 1.5
LeisureDive.com / WENN
