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Apolar bear plunge is an event held during the winter where participants enter a body of water despite the low temperature. In the United States, polar bear plunges are usually held to raise money for acharitable organization. In Canada, polar bear swims are usually held on New Year's Day to celebrate the new year.
In Canada, "Polar Bear Swims", "plunges" or "dips" are a New Year's Day tradition in numerous communities across the country.[1][2][3][4]Vancouver, British Columbia's annual Polar Bear Swim Club has been active since 1920 and typically has 1,000 to 2,000 registered participants, with a record 2,128 plunging into English Bay in 2000. Registration is not enforced and the actual number of swimmers may be significantly higher. Estimates of the number of observers are typically up to 10,000.[5][6][7]White Rock, British Columbia's Polar Bear Swim Club was founded in 1958, and other suburbs including North Vancouver, Surrey, Delta and Langley also hold swims.[8][9][10]
Other locations includeBowen Island, BC,[11]Sidney, BC,[12]Edmonton, AB,[citation needed]Calgary, AB,[citation needed]Ottawa, ON,[citation needed]Oakville, ON,[13]Toronto, ON,[14]Perth, ON,[15]Clarington, ON,[16]Sarnia, ON,[17]Montreal, QC,[citation needed]North Hatley, QC,[citation needed]Halifax, NS,[citation needed]Prince Edward Island,[18] Ness Lake north of Prince George, BC andSt. John's, NL.[citation needed] InYellowknife, NWT, the "Freezin for a Reason" plunge is held in May after the spring thaw.[19]
Every New Year's Day around 60,000 people dive collectively into the icy cold sea water atScheveningen, a Dutch beach resort town, since 1960. In 89 locations on beaches and in lakes all over the country, each year many people participate in this "Nieuwjaarsduik" (English: New Year's dive). Since 1998,Unox, aUnilever food brand often associated with winter, adopted the Nieuwjaarsduik; Unox-branded winter caps and gloves are frequently worn by participants.[20][21]
Polar plunges (the local name) are held at various beaches in New Zealand, usually on the weekend closest to the shortest day in late June. Among other places, polar plunges are led atPapamoa Beach (Tauranga),[22]Saint Clair Beach (Dunedin),[23] andCastlecliff (Wanganui).[24]
In the UK, the majority of winter swimming events take place onChristmas Day orBoxing Day,[25] with many hundreds of people swimming in the sea at the largest events inExmouth,Lowestoft andBrighton.[26][27]
An annual "Loony Dook" takes place in South Queensferry, Scotland, on New Year's Day. Several thousand attend the event with over one thousand taking the plunge.[28] Participants regularly dress up for the occasion and will usually parade through the local town acting like "loonies" proceeding the "dook". Aside from the regular enthusiasts, most are still inebriated from New Year's Eve celebrations and have more than likely lost a bet.
Another, smaller plunge occurs on Christmas Day at Blackroot Pool inSutton Park, Birmingham, England.[29] Often, participants aim to raise money for charity.
There is a Christmas Day Harbour Swim inWeymouth, Dorset.[30]
In the British Overseas Territory ofGibraltar, an annual swim is held on Boxing Day.[31]
Since the event's inauguration in 1983, thousands of people have taken part in the annual New Year's Day Dip on theIsle of Man, a British Crown Dependency. Events are held inPeel,Laxey,Douglas,Port St Mary,Ramsey andCastletown for various charities.[32]
Polar plunges are held across the United States, including annual events held inSeattle (since 1993); Evergreen, Colorado;[33] New York (theConey Island Polar Bear Club);[2][34] Lake George, NY;[35][36]Boston (since 1904);[37] Milwaukee's Bradford Beach (since 1916);[38] New Hampshire;[39] and New Jersey.[40] Some, such as Minnesota's,[41] are held to raise proceeds for theSpecial Olympics.Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College also organizes an annual "Polar Plunge for Health Equity" into Occom Pond.[39]
The Polar Bear Plunge event in Maryland is the largest polar bear plunge in the United States. It is held annually atSandy Point State Park and raises funds for the Special Olympics.[42] Sponsored by theMaryland State Police, in 2007, Plungapalooza raised $2.2 million and had 7,400 participants.[43] In 2008, an estimated 12,000 people participated.[42]
Every Super Bowl Sunday,Long Beach, New York, hosts one of the largest plunge events in the United States. Since 1998, thousands have flocked to Long Beach to jump into the ocean on Super Bowl Sunday. All proceeds are donated to theMake-A-Wish Foundation.[44]
From February to March each year, Polar Plunges are held in numerous locations throughout the state ofIllinois. Donations and proceeds raised for theSpecial Olympics.[45]
An annual Polar Bear Swimming Contest takes place annually at theHaeundae Beach inBusan, South Korea.[46][47]
A polar plunge is also held every midsummer in Antarctica as a rite of passage for scientists and visitors to New Zealand'sScott Base. It is held in late December.[48]
