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Okanagan Lake relatively warm for this year’s polar bear dip

People took the plunge from across the valley
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It was practically a day at the beach for participants in Peachland’s annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear dip.

Swimmers had the advantage of unseasonably mild weather with the temperature outside being just below 0 C and Okanagan Lake at a comparatively balmy 5.4 C. This time last year, it was -10 C outside and the lake temperature was 2 C.

Regardless of relatively warm weather, plunging into the lake was still a daunting prospect, said many of those who gathered on Beach Avenue, at Swim Bay.

Dressed as a pirate, who was “ready to go down with the ship,” Peachlander Rob Fairbridge said he was taking the plunge for the first time, thanks to a persuasive friend who was also going to do the swim.

His plan of attack was to “run in, scream a little bit, and run back out.”

Many others said they wanted to start the new year fresh by washing off 2018.

For one pair of dippers, the event was the fulfilment of an idea born nearly 40 years ago.

Denise Nielson saw her first Okanagan Lake polar bear dip in 1981, and at that time she said “I am going to do that one day.”

In 1983 she gave birth to her son Brent, and put the idea on the shelf for awhile.

Tuesday she stood on the shores of Okanagan Lake with Brent’s “very supportive, warm” hand in hers as they readied themselves for the dip.

READ ALSO: LAST YEAR’S DIP WAS CHILLY

“I thought about it for many years, and now the stars lined up and we’re doing it together,” said Denise.

“I agreed to do it last Christmas,” said Brent. “A year goes by pretty quick and I was dreading it.”

Denise added “he was thinking ‘mom’s going to forget’, but I didn’t.”

While they had a whole year to think over actually doing the dip, they hadn’t gone over a strategy.

“We’re just going to give ‘er,” said Brent.

“Warm hands, warm heart,” said Denise.

“You’re going to have to get your hair wet,” said Brent.

Denise was fine with the idea and the two found their spot among the hundred or so others who were at the shore.

Within minutes the whole swim was over and Denise and Brent had nothing but good things to say about the experience.

“Everybody should do it at least once,” said Brent, adding that he might bring water shoes to the next one.

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@KelownaNewsKat
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