2009 Polar Bear Swims across the US and Canada today

by Amy Judd | January 1, 2009 at 08:43 am

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As part of a New Years Day tradition across the United States and Canada, thousands of people will be battling their hangovers to plunge into icy waters, swim out to a designated point, and then swim back to the cheers and respect from their fellow swimmers and spectators alike.

Many of the events are orgainzed by the Polar Bear Clubs.

Vancouver has a Polar Bear Swim every year in English Bay - this year being the 89th one. However this year will be especially cold, due to all the recent winter weather.

Brave swimmers will plunge into the icy waters at 2:30pm. Registration is free and people are being asked to meet at the Boathouse.

In Surrey, some people will ring in the New Year with their own swim, but without swimsuits! The Skinnydipper Recreation Club and Surrey United Naturists are hosting the 3rd annual charity swim at 1 o'clock tomorrow. There will be coffee and a bonfire to help people warmup afterwards.

Coney Island in New York has had a polar bear swim every year since 1903, and this year about 700 people are expected to show up to take part. There will be many more people watching from the shore however! This is normal for the club though, as they do this every Sunday during the winter. The club's president explains why:

Well, it's been a long-standing New York tradition, for one thing. It's a celebration of the new year, it's a way to celebrate Coney Island, it's a way of breaking away from the past year. This is an activity that's so different and so distinct from what we normally do in our everyday lives that it's a very cathartic and cleansing experience.

Seattle host their polar bear swim in Lake Washington, and at least the snow and ice have gone for now.

The original local polar-bear swim at Matthews Beach is in its seventh year and organizers expect to hand out about 1,000 official Polar Bear Plunge Patches to everyone who takes the plunge. It's free and festive, and costumes are encouraged.

Lake George in New York will be the scene of its 29th annual swim and hundreds are expected to come out for the 2pm start.
In Pittsburgh, their Polar Bear Club will be taking the plunge into the icy water.

Organizers say the event grows in popularity every year.

This year about 200 people are expected to take part in the frigid fun.

Officials say it should be about 21 degrees as this year's brave souls take their jump around 9:30 a.m.

Back in the Lower Mainland of Canada, Delta is also hosting their own swim at Centennial Beach in Tsawwassen.

Laurie Collicutt, Delta's co-ordinator of community recreation, said there were 251 swimmers at last year's event and about 2,500 spectators.

The actual swim starts at 1 p.m. Collicutt stressed it is not an endurance event and Delta staff clear the water of swimmers quickly once the bell that is placed about 25 feet offshore has been rung by the first three swimmers to reach it.

Prizes are awarded to the first three to the bell as well as to the oldest and youngest swimmers.

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LotusFlower

at 09:56 on January 1st, 2009

In the UK they have the famous Hyde Park swims in the Serpentine on Christmas Day (the Peter Pan Race) and also again on Boxing and New Year's Day. This has gone on for many many years. Here#s some news on this year's swim where a novice follows in his great-grandfather's, well not footsteps, but wake:

A novice Banstead swimmer is following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather by braving the cold for a festive dip.

Bobby Baxter, 50, spent his Christmas Day swimming in the bitter water in Hyde Park and plans to do the same again for New Year’s Day.

He joined other members of the Serpentine Swimming Club for their annual 100 yard swim, a race won by his great-grandfather over a century ago.

Bobby, who has recently become a grandfather himself, joined the club after the medal won by his ancestor was passed down the family to him.

He said: “Before I joined, I thought there must have been a lot of medals given out, but now I realise there’s just one every year. It’s really quite special.”

Scotland :

About 600 hardy revellers have blown away the Hogmanay cobwebs by plunging into the icy waters of the River Forth.

The annual Loony Dook was started by two friends in 1987, and raises thousands of pounds for charity.

Dookers from across the world congregated in South Queensferry for the event, which attracted hundreds of spectators.

Many of the fearless dookers were wearing fancy dress costumes, thongs and "mankinis".

The first Loony Dook took place on 1 January 1987 from the Moorings Lounge in South Queensferry, where Andy Kerr and Jim Kilcullen were discussing what they could do to celebrate new year.

Amy Judd

at 09:59 on January 1st, 2009

I didn't know this - thanks for the added information!

Paschen

at 10:05 on January 1st, 2009

I did that one year in Lake Huron, in 2000. I would not do it again.

jefpit

at 13:57 on January 1st, 2009

This was a very fun day at the beach, everyone was smiling, laughing and enjoying the fun.

jefpit has contributed a photo to this story.

158

at 20:59 on January 1st, 2009

No way.

I live in Florida but will not go swimming until mid March.

Milieunet

at 09:25 on January 2nd, 2009

Yep, Some 6500 people did the same in the Netherlands. One of them, Jort Kelder took a big pig with him, to protest about sponsorship of Unox.

See: http://www.jortkelder.nl/ and http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/2910725/__Grote_zoektocht_naar_blonde_dame__.html?p=3,1

ekavet

at 13:51 on January 2nd, 2009

Every new years day starts out with the Polar Bear swim at Coney Island. This years swim was bittersweet as Coney Island lost one of its main attractions in Astroland.
The weather was sunny with temps around 25 degrees. The water was a balmy 44 degrees.
There was a large turnout as the Polar Bear swim season officially gets underway.

ekavet has contributed a photo to this story.

Miriam Mannak

at 12:35 on January 7th, 2009

In The Netherlands, where I am from, New Year swims are organised across the country on January 1. This year, various swims where cancelled because of the freezing weather.