Hundreds of people set Czech polar bear dip record in Lake Barbora
As the country struggled to deal with icy conditions and heavy snow at the weekend, several hundred Czech men and women stripped down to their swimsuits in the freezing cold to set a new Czech record and help a good cause. The event was organized by free diver David Vencl and the Good Day agency from Pelhřimov.
On Sunday, shortly after noon, 826 men and women plunged into the freezing waters of Lake Barbora near Teplice, setting a new Czech record as spectators on the shore cheered them on. Some stayed in the water, which had a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius, for the compulsory one minute needed to set the record, others braved the cold for a few minutes longer and the seasoned hardy men and women enjoyed a short swim before returning to shore.
The participants stood around sipping hot tea and mulled wine as they warmed up around a campfire. Iva Klaskova says it was a unique experience.
“You have to make yourself stay in there until you are quite stiff with cold. You mustn’t try to cheat. And then when you come out your body is tingling all over, the blood is coursing around your body and you feel really uplifted.”
The idea for a polar bear dip that would set a new record was conceived by free diver David Vencl who wanted a special event at which he could launch his new book Man Under the Ice.
Vencl set a world record in March of this year as the first diver in the world to dive 52.1 metres under the ice of Lake Sils in Switzerland without a wetsuit, covering the distance in under two minutes – and in a single breath.
In 2021 he entered the Guinness Book of Records for swimming 80 metres across a frozen lake in Czechia in one breath – beneath a thick layer of ice.
The popular Czech free diver chose Lake Barbora, which is a popular summer recreation spot, because he often trains here himself in the winter. He expected some 200 people to take part and was delighted to welcome over 800 participants who arrived despite the complications caused by heavy snow on the previous day, which disrupted traffic around the country.
In addition to helping set a new record, participants in the polar bear dip were helping a good cause. The entry fee collected will be used to support people suffering from cystic fibrosis. Vencl, who greeted each of the participants in person, says he is delighted with the outcome.
“We conceived it as a Czech record – and achieved our goal. But we will aim higher. There’s always a next time.”
The world record for a polar bear dip was set in Vancouver when 2,128 people joined in.
Winter swimming has a long tradition in this country reaching back to 1923 when it was popularized by Alfred Nikodem. There are winter swimmers’ clubs around the country, which welcome new members every year and organize events in their given locality. Several hundred people of all ages –from 10 to 90 –annually take part in the traditional Polar Bear dip in the Vltava River to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.
