Cold Weather Seduces Polar Bears and Swimmers

Polar bears are equipped for the cold temperatures. They keep warm with layers of body fat and maintain internal temperatures of 98.6 degrees F. as humans do. What's different for human swimmers? We have to don the body fat with warm clothing or adjust with practice. An annual tradition usually held on New Year's Day, polar bear swims are most recognized in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and at Coney Island, New York. Vancouver has the polar bears while Coney Island boasts packs of seals.

Participation has grown from about 10 competitors in 1920 to between 250 and 300 swimmers in the 1950s, and recently as many as 2,128 swimmers on record for one competition. Some safety tips other than practical common sense include no heart conditions, do not stay in the water more than 15 minutes, do not peal clothing during the swim, and no alcohol because consumption will accelerate hypothermia. It's very important to get plenty of practice as the daytime temperatures drop in Northern America. After a practice swim or the final competition warm up with hot beverages and dry clothing afterward.

Popular shorter laps are 100 yards, standard competitions are 300 yards or roughly three football field lengths. After a swimmer registers and participates in the cold water swim, then the swimmer is referred to as a polar bear.

So far the coldest polar bear swim temperature on record was at 38 degrees F. in 1928. Since then the same water temperature was again recorded in 1982 and 1985 in Vancouver, B.C. On average the temperature range fluctuates between 38 degrees F. to 43 degrees F. In the year 2005 a highest recording of 48 degrees was noted.

Since the yearly registration has climbed to 1,900-2,000 registrants, lifeguards have been recruited, spectators numbering between five and ten-thousand. The yearly Vancouver, British Columbia, swim was mentioned in the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest world-wide. First, second and third-place trophies are awarded and one female trophy. Often police men and women have participated in the polar bear swims.

Mentoring polar bear mammals are very strong swimmers capable of swimming across wide bays and long distances for several hours at a time usually submerging no more than nine to 14 feet when they do. Record swims for real polar bears are as long as 62 miles continuously. They swim dog-paddle, a less strenuous style of swimming and allow their legs and feet to remain straight, guiding them in the water as rudders.

Polar bears remain warm in temperatures as low as 34 degrees sub-zero with their fat layers and heavy layers of fur for insulation, causing them to take precautions to prevent overheating. People are also capable of overheating during exertion, the best solution is to slow down the activity.

From Coney Island, New York, polar bear swim competitions are also held on January 1st by tradition. It's recommended for swimmers to wear gloves, water suits, clothing, socks, etc. Competitive swimmers who practice have become so accustomed to cold water temperatures that some boast wearing standard swim suits. Winter temperatures in January on Coney Island usually range between 25 to 30 degrees F., water temperatures in Long Island Sound average 50 degrees F.

As for other activities in Vancouver, B.C., during mid-winter check out holiday train rides, running marathons, drum festivals and winter solstice celebrations, the Christmas tree chipping competitions are a week after the polar bear swims. The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation sponsors the Polar Bear Swim competitions, however, they do not necessarily sponsor the other mid-winter activities. For activity information or to register for a swim contact the Vancouver Aquatic Centre, 1050 Beach Ave., Vancouver, B.C., Canada V6E 1T7.

Clothing outfitters offering warm clothing include Back Country Outfitters, Lands End and L.L. Bean. Anyone interested in competing can get a good jump start with warm clothing and practice in the many North American swimming places. Why wait, who will be jumping in first?