What is the best way to kick off the new year, you might ask yourself? A swim is what many thought on the morning of Jan. 1, 2024.
A few weeks ago, the Town of Comox invited residents of the Valley and beyond to participate in their 47th annual Polar Bear Swim at Goose Spit Park.
On the day of the event, more than 400 attendees answered the Town鈥檚 call.
According to Ayleasha Ferguson, the swim鈥檚 organizer, this marks the highest number of participants in the event鈥檚 history.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 much more than we expected. We usually anticipate around 300 people, but we鈥檙e way over that. We have about 350 names on the registry so far, and the line of participants keeps growing.鈥�
Having spearheaded the event for the past five years, Ferguson pointed out that a common factor for all participants is the chance to celebrate the start of the year in an alternative way.
鈥淢ost people I talk to here have told me it鈥檚 very refreshing,鈥� said Ferguson. 鈥淭hey really enjoy it and it鈥檚 a great way to jump into the new year.鈥�
At 11:00 a.m. sharp, Ferguson initiated a countdown. Seconds later, a horde of cheerful swimmers took the Spit by storm.
Though Ferguson is unsure of the origin of this nearly five-decade-long tradition, she said most swimmers have their own unique stories behind their attendance.
Among them is first-year swimmer Kieran Walker from Cumberland.
鈥淚 just got invited by my friend. He just said 鈥楬ey, we鈥檙e doing the polar bear dip.鈥� At first, I thought it was just a friendly thing and didn鈥檛 realize that it was a full-on event. When I pulled up here, there were all these cars parked down the Spit.鈥�
While some quickly sprinted in and out of the water, with temperatures as low as 8.3 C, Walker was among the few participants who stayed in the water for a prolonged period.
鈥淚鈥檝e done three dips in total! I didn鈥檛 feel it at first, but now it鈥檚 setting in, and I鈥檓 shivering. It鈥檚 lovely!鈥�
RELATED: Comox hosting annual Polar Bear Swim at Goose Spit on New Year鈥檚 Day
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