There’s nothing warm and cozy about this New Year’s tradition

For most people, a trip to the beach is reserved for warm and sunny days.

But for a group of swimmers on Jan. 1, it was anything but.

While the official in-person Kelowna Polar Bear Dip was cancelled, that didn’t stop a handful of faithful from their annual plunge.

Dozens trudged through thick snow on Tugboat Beach to submerse themselves in Okanagan Lake, just long enough for the frigid water to take their breathe away.

The temperature on the overcast Saturday afternoon was around -11C, with wind chills closer to -20C.

“It’s not [very comfortable]. It’s a good mental challenge to start the year. You really have to convince yourself you’re going to do it,” Walter told Kelowna10, holding a thermos and wearing a bathrobe before embarking on his dip.

“At the end, it’s super refreshing. They say there’s health benefits to it. I have no idea what they are, but it’s a pretty easy way to cure a hangover as well," he added with a laugh.

Walter said he's taken part in the tradition for the past seven years, one in which friends and family rarely have the courage to join him on.

The official event is in support of Community Recreational Initiatives Society (CRIS). The organization helps people with disabilities participate in outdoor activities with the assistance of adaptive equipment.

Due to rising COVID-19 case count and the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, organizers decided it was best to cancel this year’s gathering and instead focus on another virtual event.

Participants were encouraged to donate online and film themselves taking a dip in the lake, an ice cold bath tub, jump in a snowbank, or come up with a creative method of getting uncomfortably cold.

As Walter walked into the frosty lake, he and Dan “Dirtman” McFarlane exchanged high-fives.

Dirtman was among the first to enter the water. He brought a sign saying, ‘Kelowna temp -11, feels like a swim’.

“I feel absolutely like 2022 is just going to be a great year,” Dirtman said.

Both he and Walter said the thought of skipping the dip never entered their mind, despite the cold and cancellation.

When Kelowna10 asked how participants felt after their dip, answers were consistent; "cold."