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2007 Polar Bear Swim

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

It’s been a tradition for 87 years in Vancouver and this year, just maybe, I’ll be able to get John to go. I mean, we’ve been enjoying the beach all year, right? What’s a quick dip in English Bay… on January 1… after a night of drinking… I mean the Polar Bear Swim Club does it all the time.

Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights of this event. To be a club member you must register before the swim. Registration takes place in front of the English Bay Bathhouse from 12:30pm – 2:30pm each New Year’s Day.

You may also register by clipping out the coupon in the Province Newspaper and presenting it at the registration desk the day of the swim. Your free membership includes a commemorative button after you take the plunge [PolarBearSwim]

Basically you show up, get in the water, then get the hell out. It’ll wake you, shrivel you, and will probably be a kickass time with thousands of other people in the city.

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  1. deganSunday, December 24th, 2006 — 6:13pm PST

    I’m going this year! finally, i’ve been wanting to for years and this year i’m going to do it!

  2. melSunday, December 24th, 2006 — 8:46pm PST

    you’re brave!! I still find July cold ! 🙂

  3. MaseyMonday, December 25th, 2006 — 10:23pm PST

    I was a first-timer polar bear last New Year’s Day (we obviously don’t have that kind of thing in Australia), and I had a great time. It’s just a bunch of people with hangovers doing what they can to take away the pain as quickly as possible… basically by transferring the pain in their heads to their extremities in a matter of seconds. Invigorating fun for sure!

  4. Doug KarrWednesday, December 27th, 2006 — 8:44am PST

    I’m a proud member!

    My years were 84, 85 and 86. Wish I were there! One of my fondest memories was dressed up with a dozen other folks as penguins. We made the outfits out of black, orange and white garbage bags. We also drank all night and walked a couple miles to the beach chanting “quack, quack, waddle, waddle”.

    I don’t remember much else.

  5. Miss604Wednesday, December 27th, 2006 — 10:05am PST

    That’s awesome! I’m pretty certain we won’t be fully awake or coherent at that time either, although it is pretty late in the day. Wish we had costumes to wear – anything sounds better than wearing a bikini in English Bay on January 1st 😛

  6. ElvisMonday, January 1st, 2007 — 5:37pm PST

    I do it every year for the last 10 years, the last 8 as elvis, it was a blast, hope you guys had fun

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