More than a thousand people take the plunge in Vancouver’s polar bear swim
Posted January 1, 2018 2:50 pm.
Last Updated January 1, 2018 3:07 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – More than a thousand people dove into the New Year at the annual Polar Bear Swim in Vancouver’s English Bay this afternoon.
Brent Hammond organizes the Polar Bear Veterans Club, which is for anyone who has taken the plunge 20 times or more. He says the polar bear swim is an important event for him and he hasn’t missed one in 28 years.
“It’s a metaphor of just jumping into the new year and living life fully. In fact, I go a step further and I write three words in marker — what I want to jump into this year.”
Hammond says the water isn’t so scary, adding that diving in represents doing anything in life by getting over your fears and taking them on.
Michele was there for her 25th polar bear swim. Before taking the plunge, she stood on the beach to show off an assortment of pins, which represent each dip she’s taken part in.
“[The buttons] are like my trophies. It’s the proof that I’ve done it… I add them, year after year.”
The boisterous crowd gathered behind yellow tape, as they awaited a countdown to jump in. There was even a man playing the bagpipes on the beach to add to the excitement.
The crowd ran into the waters in a frenzy, with the rather appropriate song “Cold Water” playing in the background.
For the most part, people tell us they feel as you would expect after diving into the ocean in the middle of the winter.
“I feel frozen right now!” exclaims Alberto. “The water is freezing… but it’s pretty good!”
He says it’s a great way to start off a fresh new year and others say it could be worse.
“There’s no wind,” points out one man, as his friend notes the fact that there isn’t any snow on the ground means it’s not so bad.
Many have taken the plunge before, and for people like Jim and Jeff, it’s a way to catch up with old friends.
“We only see each other once a year!” Jim tells us.
“We’ve been doing it for so long, now we have to,” says Jeff.
Many polar bear swimmers jumped right back out of the water to be among the first to grab a pin to prove they had the courage to dive in this year.
The polar bear swim in English Bay wasn’t the only around Metro Vancouver today.
People will also braved the chilly waters in White Rock, Port Moody, Delta, Fort Langley and North Vancouver. There was also a clothing-optional dip in Crescent Beach in South Surrey.
