When you polar dip in Spain, it’s going for a warm swim.
When you polar dip in Nova Scotia, you emerge shaking from the cold but elated from the challenge.
Among the hundreds of shivering swimmers standing in line on the wharf in Herring Cove New Year’s Day, was a pile of young international students.
“It’s my first time in Canada so I want to do all the things possible that I cannot do in my country,” said Lucia Marcos, 16, from Spain before the plunge. “We don’t have that cold weather so it’s not going to feel the same doing it in Spain.”
Her friend Claire El Bouamraoui, 16, is from Germany and a swimmer, so she has more experience with frigid water.
“I thought it was a really cool tradition. It’s a good opportunity to start fresh in the new year and I’ve never done anything like that before.”
Wrapped in towels with their breath fogging the air, the two girls were energized after their plunge.
“Actually, it was not that bad,” said Marcos. “It’s cold but I’m so glad I did it.”
El Bouamraoui said hitting the water is a big shock, but she found it warm after she got out.
Regrets?
“No! I’d do it again,” they agreed.
Twenty-three years jumping and Arnie Ross, 85, from Lower Sackville is always the first one in.
“I really enjoy it and it’s a really good way to start the new year,” he said.
Most jumpers change into swimsuits shortly before the plunge, but Ross has a system.
“I take my clothes off about 20 minutes before I jump in so when I hit the water, the water is good and warm because my body is colder than the water.
It was easy to see the jumpers were enjoying the plus temperatures and high tide in the 2020 edition of the polar dip.
"This is lovely," Ross said. "One year it was -24C with the windchill."
Ethan Legere, 14, hopes to beat Ross's record one day. Considering he started when he was four, he's got a jump on it.
A decade ago, Legere’s mother Jenny Cole jumped and her son was really eager to try it. So he did. In his underwear.
Jenny stopped jumping a few years back after dip in -28C weather.
“After that, I was like, there’s nothing left to prove.”
But Legere’s grandmother Janet Cole jumped with him this year.
“This is good (weather), but the water is still going to feel cold,” Janet said.
Legere said he doesn’t remember his first jump but the technique he’s learned over the years is to get in fast, and get out even faster.
The three generations agree climbing up the metal ladder, especially with a low tide, is the worst part.
“As soon as I hit the water, I can’t breathe,” Legere said. “You just turn around, go to the ladder and get up as fast as you can.”
FACTS
Sea temperature around Spain is currently between 6C-21C.
Sea temperature around Nova Scotia is currently between 0C-5C.
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