PHOTOS: 2015 Polar Bear Swim in Peachland draws plenty of gutsy swimmers | iNFOnews.ca
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

PHOTOS: 2015 Polar Bear Swim in Peachland draws plenty of gutsy swimmers

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.

PHOTOS: 2015 Polar Bear Swim in Peachland draws plenty of gutsy swimmers | iNFOnews.ca
The countdown is finished and swimmers run into the lake in Peachland, January 1, 2015. | Photographer: Shelley Jordan

PHOTOS: 2015 Polar Bear Swim in Peachland draws plenty of gutsy swimmers | iNFOnews.ca
There was a brief moment of frolicking during the annual Peachland Polar Bear Swim, January 1, 2015. | Photographer: Shelley Jordan

PHOTOS: 2015 Polar Bear Swim in Peachland draws plenty of gutsy swimmers | iNFOnews.ca
Plenty of spectators gathered to watch the Polar Bear Swim at Swim Bay in Peachland, January 1, 2015. | Photographer: Shelley Jordan

PHOTOS: 2015 Polar Bear Swim in Peachland draws plenty of gutsy swimmers | iNFOnews.ca
Eventually, the chill of the water was too much and most participants left the water in Peachland, January 1, 2015. | Photographer: Shelley Jordan

PHOTOS: 2015 Polar Bear Swim in Peachland draws plenty of gutsy swimmers | 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. | Photographer: Shelley Jordan

PHOTOS: 2015 Polar Bear Swim in Peachland draws plenty of gutsy swimmers | iNFOnews.ca
Volunteers were on hand to dispense cups of hot chocolate following the Polar Bear Swim in Peachland, January 1, 2015. | Photographer: Shelley Jordan

PHOTOS: 2015 Polar Bear Swim in Peachland draws plenty of gutsy swimmers | iNFOnews.ca
There were plenty of smiling faces following the Peachland Polar Bear Swim, January 1, 2015. | Photographer: Shelley Jordan

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4 responses

  1. Kelly Eyford

    You all have my greatest respect… I could not do that.

  2. Nell Veale

    Looking for you Mel…maybe you are coming out of the water in that crowd….I lived in Penticton for a short time…liked it there but never tried the swim…we did it at Vernon too and once again I did not try it…don’ like the cold!

  3. Anna Palmetshofer

    amazing! wonder what the temp was like.

  4. Joan DeCook

    Congrats to all you fun-loving, brave bears, honestly I can’t tell you how amazed that so many of you “took the plunge” – “Peachlanders Rock”…….

Shelley Jordan

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