Vancouver's polar bear swim -- also known as a very cold dip in the ocean -- happens every January 1 at English Bay Beach in the West End. On New Year's Day 2012, about 2,000 swimmers gathered at the 1931 heritage Bathhouse to prepare themselves for the jolting swim.
At 2:30 p.m. the group ran en-masse into the chilly water. Some of the swimmers dressed up as superheroes, cavemen, or Santa Clauses. Others wore silly hats or their tropical swim trunks. The shrieks gave away the action, and city lifeguards kept watch over the beach. The lively annual event draws thousands of spectators and supporters to the neighborhood.
I can't help but admire the swimmers' bravado -- it's rare that I'll swim at Vancouver beaches, not even in summer. The ocean temperatures in Vancouver don't reach freezing. The average is about 6°C (43°F) at this time of year, with lows down to 3°C (38°F) and highs of 9°C (48°F). Either way, it's cold.
The Polar Bear Swim dates back to 1920, when Peter Pantages organized the first event for the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club. It's one of the longest running Polar Bear Swims in the world, and in 2012 Vancouver's chalked up its 92nd year.
Even if you miss the grand rush of swimmers at 2:30 p.m., latecomers and those heading in for a second dip continue to sprint into (and then quickly out of) English Bay until close to sunset.
Photo Chloë Ernst