On the first day of the new year, look out for a vintage and historic piece of 麻豆传媒映画beachwear amid the wet t-shirts, technicolour Speedos, and water-friendly costumes at the 97th annual Polar Bear Swim.
Held at English Bay since 1920, the swim was launched by Peter Pantages and nine others who splashed into the frigid water. Pantages wore a red-and-black, wool one-piece with mid-thigh shorts and an overall bib.
It鈥檚 the same suit his granddaughter wears every year when she continues the family tradition.
Lisa Pantages, the president of the 麻豆传媒映画Polar Bear Swim Club, said her grandfather would be awed by the thousands of swimmers who continue the tradition he started nearly a century ago.
鈥淢y grandfather always considered the swim to be about family, friends, community, fun and tradition,鈥� said Pantages in a news release from the park board.
鈥淗e would be absolutely amazed --- as we are --- at how many people in so many places have embraced this crazy fresh start to the New Year. It is marvelous.鈥�
According to the park board, Vancouver鈥檚 annual Polar Bear Swim is one of the largest and oldest in the world. In 2014, on a sunny day, a record 2,550 swimmers went for a dip. 听
In the past decade, water temperatures have ranged from 6.5 to nine degrees Celsius.
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How to participate in the 97th Polar Bear Swim on Jan. 1
The swim is held at English Bay on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.
to avoid lines and wait times on Sunday. Bring your form to English Bay to register your participation.
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Cash and food donations for the Greater 麻豆传媒映画Food Bank will also be collected onsite.
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If you鈥檙e planning to brave the Polar Bear Swim, consider these points:
- If you have a heart problem, be a spectator.
- Children must swim and stay with an adult.
- Leave your dog at home.
- Do not drink alcohol. It does not warm you up but accelerates hypothermia.
- Do not stay in the water longer than 15 minutes. Body heat is lost 25 times faster in water than in air.
- Do not remove your clothing until swim time. The swim will be started by a flag and siren.
- Bring a towel. Bring warm clothes, including socks and shoes, to change into afterwards.
- Entrants in the 100 yard race can meet at the front line on the north side (towards Stanley Park) of the enclosure.
- The first three swimmers to touch the marker buoy by the lifeguard boat will give their names to the lifeguard.
- After you swim, pick up your commemorative button at the large polar bear or at the registration table.
