Vancouver’s annual Polar Bear Swim

Posted on 24 January 2012

We’ve all heard of starting the New Year off with a bash; but how about beginning with an icy splash. For the past 92 years, residents and visitors to Vancouver, Canada partake in a frosty tradition known as the Polar Bear Swim.

The first Polar Bear Swim was initiated by a Greek immigrant, Peter Pantages in 1920.  His enthusiasm for swimming was infectious and even though the first Polar Bear Swim attracted only 10 spirited individuals, 2011 totalled a record of 2,246 official entries.  The event now attracts anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 onlookers.

New Year’s Day 2012 was no exception.  With the air temperature a balmy 8ºC (six degrees warmer than last year) swimmers and spectators jostled for pole position on English Bay.  Participants, wearing costumes from superheroes to shark fins plunged into the frigid Pacific Ocean.  While the shock of the cold water might have caused a couple of swimmers to walk on water, there were a surprising number that remained paddling in the shallows.

So whether you dip, dunk or dive you’ll have to wait another year for the annual polar pilgrimage.






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