Swimmers stood triumphantly in the icy waters.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
January 01, 2015 - 3:49 PM
VERNON - Roughly 100 brave souls charged into the frigid waters of Kalamalka Lake Thursday as part of the annual New Year's Day Polar Bear Swim.
Participants flung off their towels and jackets in -6 C weather and ran into the icy waters while supporters waited on the beach with towels.
Swimmers high-fived and embraced each other triumphantly. Due to crusted ice on the shoreline, some participants cut themselves and were treated by paramedics at the scene. There were no serious injuries however, and smiles were seen all around.
All proceeds from the event will go to the Zimbabwe Project, which supports communities with a variety of projects.
Some swimmers participated in a costume contest. The winner wore a bright yellow morph suit with festive 2015 glasses. Aside from being stylish, perhaps it also had wet suit capabilities?
Ice was crusted along the shoreline during the Polar Bear Swim.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
Participants—and spectators—huddled around a fire to keep warm in the -6 C weather.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
Following a brief dip, swimmers turned toward shore.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
After their swim, many participants sprinted toward the change rooms to get into dry clothes.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
Participants were eager to warm up frozen toes in warm winter boots.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
Swimmers congratulated one another on the frigid feat.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
Paramedics were there making sure everyone was safe.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
Chunks of ice bobbed at the shoreline.
(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015