Tips for a successful Polar Bear swim included not wearing too much clothing since cold wet clothes would be hard to remove, January 1, 2015.
(SHELLEY JORDAN / iNFOnews.ca)
January 01, 2015 - 5:57 PM
PEACHLAND - Even with a windchill that made -4 Celsius feel like -9, plenty of people gathered for the annual Polar Bear Swim in Peachland New Years Day.
Most were spectators, there to cheer on those who took the plunge. Many dressed in fun costumes for the event. One participant held her baby tight in her arms with a toddler holding her other hand as she and other participants raced into the frigid Lake Okanagan water January 1.
Some ran with reckless abandon into the depths, diving under the choppy wind swells, with a few staying for a leisurely swim before heading back to shore for hot chocolate.
The crowd moved into Swim Bay beach to watch those about to dive into Lake Okanagan for the Polar Bear Swim, January 1, 2015.
(SHELLEY JORDAN / iNFOnews.ca)
The countdown is finished and swimmers run into the lake in Peachland, January 1, 2015.
(SHELLEY JORDAN / iNFOnews.ca)
There was a brief moment of frolicking during the annual Peachland Polar Bear Swim, January 1, 2015.
(SHELLEY JORDAN / iNFOnews.ca)
Plenty of spectators gathered to watch the Polar Bear Swim at Swim Bay in Peachland, January 1, 2015.
(SHELLEY JORDAN / iNFOnews.ca)
Eventually, the chill of the water was too much and most participants left the water in Peachland, January 1, 2015.
(SHELLEY JORDAN / iNFOnews.ca)
A few swimmers tested themselves by staying in the water for quite some time after the masses had left to warm up, January 1, 2015.
(SHELLEY JORDAN / iNFOnews.ca)
Volunteers were on hand to dispense cups of hot chocolate following the Polar Bear Swim in Peachland, January 1, 2015.
(SHELLEY JORDAN / iNFOnews.ca)
There were plenty of smiling faces following the Peachland Polar Bear Swim, January 1, 2015.
(SHELLEY JORDAN / iNFOnews.ca)
News from © iNFOnews, 2015