Turning up the heat during the hockey lockout
By Viv Steele, Referee of Love
There’s a buzz in the air in Canada this winter, and it’s not mosquitos. It seems Canadian hockey fans, at a loss for indoor activities to partake in during the NHL lockout, are flocking to their local sex shop to stock up on bedroom supplies. Trading in a hockey stick for a vibrator and engaging in some sexy role play in a referee uniform could be the new coping strategy for forlorn superfans.
Multiple Canadian news sources have reported a 15 per cent rise in sex toy sales since the lockout began, and ever since I heard that news I’ve had fun imagining Don Cherry with a Fleshlight—I wonder if his nightwear is as flamboyant as his suits? But joking about elders with dildos aside, I think it’s great that more people are thinking about bringing sex toys into the bedroom. Whether this trend is really to do with hockey woes or just a seasonal upswing, it’s a win for sex.
Sex toys, used alone or with a partner, are a pleasurable way to spice up your sex life. It may seem a little alien to invite a third player into the mix, especially if that player is battery operated, silicone, and bright pink, but if it’s something you’ve wanted to try, I urge you to do it. Of the basic things you can buy at your local sex shop, the most accessible thing to try out is lubricant. It comes in a few different varieties: flavoured, warming, or just plain, but it’s important to get a water-based lube, as other types can compromise the effectiveness of condoms.
Couples can also use a small vibrator (or vibrating egg) during intercourse to stimulate the clitoris, allowing for some pretty mind-blowing orgasms for her. Men can stock up on silicone vibrating cock rings, which provide stimulation for both him and her. And then there’s the classic dildo, which can be used on either partner, but is especially nice inserted into the vagina during oral sex. Sex stores also boast tons of sexual accessories (sexessories?), like PVC bondage tape, which doesn’t stick to anything but itself, and can be used to affix your partner to you, to themselves, or to the bed.
If you’re serious about delving into the exciting world of tools, then I have some tips for you. With sex toys, much like in sporting equipment, quality is important. It’s also important to go to a reputable place that stocks only high-quality products. While Granville Street sex shop staple Fantasy Factory is a great place to go when you’re hammered at 2 a.m. and want to ogle at Ron Jeremy cock-mold dildos, it’s not the place where you want to invest. I’d recommend Womyn’s Wear on Commercial Drive or Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium on the West End. I know both of these places seem like a trek if you live outside of Vancouver, but the knowledgeable staff and comfortable ambience will make it worth the field trip. Both locations stock silicone toys, which is important because silicone can be boiled to be totally sterilized, unlike the cheap rubber and plastic that makes up the bulk of the crappier toys on the market.
Sex toys. They can be great on your own, as a gift, or with a partner. They can also apparently be a great way to pass the time while those hockey jerks figure their shit out. So stock up on batteries, throw on the Burrows jersey, and get a little dirty with your new robotic lover.