Nelsonites celebrate New Year's Day with KCR-FOKLSS polar bear swim
By The Nelson Daily Staff
While the warm and wet conditions in British Columbia continue to wreak havoc for skiers, boarders and snow goers, it was a dream day for participants in the annual Kootenay Co-op Radio and Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society Polar Bear Dip Monday at Rotary Lakeside Park.
The wind was minimal; snow that covered Lakeside Beach a year ago was non-existent; and the temperature a balmy 4 Celsius for hundreds of swimmers jumping into Kootenay Lake and spectators crowding the shore for a glimpse at Polar Bear Swim 2024.
Hundreds of Canadians celebrate the ringing in of the New Year with a polar bear plunge, maintaining a long-held tradition of braving the January cold for a swim to mark the start of 2024.
Nelson’s Polar Bear Dip is a fundraiser for Kootenay Co-op Radio and Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society, who uses money raised to fund important stewardship and educational projects including lake habitat restoration, wildlife and watershed monitoring and shoreline cleanups.
Swimmers began lining up at the water’s edge minutes before the horn sounded at noon with hundreds of swimmers, including some in costumes, sprinting into the frigid waters of Kootenay Lake.
Some of the swimmers decided to have a soak a little longer in Kootenay Lake under the watchful eyes of First Responders from BC Ambulance, on shore, and Nelson Search and Rescue from the water.
The annual New Year’s Day plunge attracted a crowd of more than a thousand, which included a record number of swimmers.
Prizes were awarded for the Top Individual Youth and Team Fundraisers and Best Costume.
Even the cold waters of Kootenay Lake could not dampen the festive spirits of participants at the 2024 Polar Bear Dip.
Spider Man took a break from crime fighting to enjoy a dip into Kootenay Lake.
Polar Bear swimmers counted down the seconds before jumping into Kootenay Lake.
One of the largest crowd on record took advantage of the El Nino weather cycle to attend the 2024 Polar Bear Dip.
