Equipment: Start with dark shades, preferably wraparounds for complete cover.
Location: Positioning is key. Place your folding chair or towel cattycorner to a high-concentration of sun-worshipping hotties.
Technique: Leer out of the corner of your eye — do not crane your neck.
Risks: Be watchful of significant others that might be nearby. Straight guys should know that before a 'roid-rage muscle-head greets his sunbathing beauty, he typically bird-dogs the area for dudes scoping out his girl. Straight women — watch for psycho-girlfriends who think their man does all those crunches just for them. Gay men and lesbians: If in a more-or-less hetero environment, either go for the full-on brazen flirtation (which, depending on the object of your affections, can be surprisingly successful) or the furtive wraparound-shades technique (see above). Gay beach? Gawk away.
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This article appears in May 9-15, 2007.