
Photo credit: wanderunghike | Flickr
The extended forecast in Vancouver for Jan. 1, 2013, calls for strong thunderstorms and a high of 5 degrees Celsius.
Perfect weather for a swim.
For the last 92 years, the Vancouver Polar Bear Club has marked New Year’s Day with a frosty dip in the city’s English Bay. This year will be no exception. Thousands of hardy swimmers – many of them fresh from New Year’s Eve parties – are expected to gather on English Bay Beach on the afternoon of Jan. 1 to take the plunge.
The tradition started back in 1920 when local legend Peter Pantages led 10 swimmers into the icy water as part of the inaugural Polar Bear Swim. That number has grown steadily over the last century, with a record 2,246 registered swimmers turning out for the 2011 Polar Bear Swim (The actual number of total swimmers each year is estimated to be as high as 10,000).
As veteran Polar Bears know, the annual dip is as much a party as it is a test of wills. Continue reading:
Best New Year’s Hangover Remedy? Vancouver Polar Bear Swim: Jan 1, 2013