It was practically a day at the beach for participants in Peachland香蕉视频直播檚 annual New Year香蕉视频直播檚 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 香蕉视频直播渞eady to go down with the ship,香蕉视频直播� 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 香蕉视频直播渞un in, scream a little bit, and run back out.香蕉视频直播�
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 香蕉视频直播淚 am going to do that one day.香蕉视频直播�
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香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播渧ery supportive, warm香蕉视频直播� hand in hers as they readied themselves for the dip.
READ ALSO: LAST YEAR香蕉视频直播橲 DIP WAS CHILLY
香蕉视频直播淚 thought about it for many years, and now the stars lined up and we香蕉视频直播檙e doing it together,香蕉视频直播� said Denise.
香蕉视频直播淚 agreed to do it last Christmas,香蕉视频直播� said Brent. 香蕉视频直播淎 year goes by pretty quick and I was dreading it.香蕉视频直播�
Denise added 香蕉视频直播渉e was thinking 香蕉视频直播榤om香蕉视频直播檚 going to forget香蕉视频直播�, but I didn香蕉视频直播檛.香蕉视频直播�
While they had a whole year to think over actually doing the dip, they hadn香蕉视频直播檛 gone over a strategy.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e just going to give 香蕉视频直播榚r,香蕉视频直播� said Brent.
香蕉视频直播淲arm hands, warm heart,香蕉视频直播� said Denise.
香蕉视频直播淵ou香蕉视频直播檙e going to have to get your hair wet,香蕉视频直播� 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.
香蕉视频直播淓verybody should do it at least once,香蕉视频直播� said Brent, adding that he might bring water shoes to the next one.
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