It was practically a day at the beach for participants in Peachland鈥檚 annual New Year鈥檚 Day Polar Bear dip.
Swimmers had the advantage of unseasonably mild weather with the temperature outside being just below 0 C and Okanagan Lake at a comparatively balmy 5.4 C. This time last year, it was -10 C outside and the lake temperature was 2 C.
Regardless of relatively warm weather, plunging into the lake was still a daunting prospect, said many of those who gathered on Beach Avenue, at Swim Bay.
Dressed as a pirate, who was 鈥渞eady to go down with the ship,鈥� Peachlander Rob Fairbridge said he was taking the plunge for the first time, thanks to a persuasive friend who was also going to do the swim.
His plan of attack was to 鈥渞un in, scream a little bit, and run back out.鈥�
Many others said they wanted to start the new year fresh by washing off 2018.
For one pair of dippers, the event was the fulfilment of an idea born nearly 40 years ago.
Denise Nielson saw her first Okanagan Lake polar bear dip in 1981, and at that time she said 鈥淚 am going to do that one day.鈥�
In 1983 she gave birth to her son Brent, and put the idea on the shelf for awhile.
Tuesday she stood on the shores of Okanagan Lake with Brent鈥檚 鈥渧ery supportive, warm鈥� hand in hers as they readied themselves for the dip.
READ ALSO: LAST YEAR鈥橲 DIP WAS CHILLY
鈥淚 thought about it for many years, and now the stars lined up and we鈥檙e doing it together,鈥� said Denise.
鈥淚 agreed to do it last Christmas,鈥� said Brent. 鈥淎 year goes by pretty quick and I was dreading it.鈥�
Denise added 鈥渉e was thinking 鈥榤om鈥檚 going to forget鈥�, but I didn鈥檛.鈥�
While they had a whole year to think over actually doing the dip, they hadn鈥檛 gone over a strategy.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just going to give 鈥榚r,鈥� said Brent.
鈥淲arm hands, warm heart,鈥� said Denise.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to have to get your hair wet,鈥� said Brent.
Denise was fine with the idea and the two found their spot among the hundred or so others who were at the shore.
Within minutes the whole swim was over and Denise and Brent had nothing but good things to say about the experience.
鈥淓verybody should do it at least once,鈥� said Brent, adding that he might bring water shoes to the next one.
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