Best way to start 2025? Penguin Plunge!

What would be a more refreshing way to start the new year than dipping yourself into the freezing waters of Pacific Ocean? Surrounded by gorgeous, mountain landscape?

As long as I’ve been playing Sims 4 (years lol) I’ve always wondered what is the “polar bear plunge/swim” activity you can add as a task when creating an event. Well finally I know - it’s a thing here in North America and especially in Canada on New Years Day!

Based on my research, tradition started in Vancouver already in1920 by group of swimmers who called themselves Polar Bear Club. Group originally practiced their tradition on Christmas Day, but since 1945 the official day switched to be the first day of the year. The biggest honor of creating this tradition goes to Peter Pantages, an Greek Immigrant who swam daily on Pacific Ocean and eventually had nine friends to join him on his daily dips. You can read more about the history here: History of Polar Bear Swim

Last year, 2023, over 8000 participants joined the plunge in English Bay and this year the event was hosted 105th time, most likely breaking the record again of the highest attendance rate. While I’m writing this post there are no official numbers yet, but you can get the vibe from this CBC post.

Some of my favourite costumes of the event

The guardians of the penguins

Anyhow, as I live with my husband in the North Vancouver, we decided to embrace our inner penguins and headed to stunning Deep Cove instead for Penguin Plunge. Or to be honest, I was more than happy to stay on the shore and capture my husband’s and his friend’s first dip into the freezing water.

I assume that Deep Cove wasn’t as crowded as English Bay, but there were still hundreds of people! Atmosphere was relaxed with beautiful live music and pop-up stores. Penguin was warming up the plungers with some fancy dance moves and you could see how people had put effort on their costumes as the best dressed would receive a special price.

Will I do it next year? Maybe. But to be honest, for now I would need a proper sauna to get myself into the water! Back in Finland I used to do cold-water swimming (well 10 second dips), but it’s completely different experience when you have first warmed yourself up in room that is over +60C.

Hope you’ve had as refreshing start of the year. :) Until next time!

x Krista