Beach bums! Thousands of naked swimmers brave near-freezing waters for the annual solstice dip to mark the shortest day of the year
- Nearly 2,000 people stripped down to jump in near-freezing waters to mark the shortest day of the year
- 1915 brave people took the plunge in Hobart’s River Derwent on Saturday morning as the sun started to rise
- A couple from Mount Isa in Queensland even used the event to tie the knot, with the crowd cheering them on
- Swimmers rugged up after their dip, with air temperature of just 5C while the water temp was in the low teens
Advertisement
Nearly 2,000 people stripped off and braved near-freezing waters for a midwinter dip to mark the shortest day of the year.
A record-breaking 1915 people took the chilly winter solstice plunge in Hobart’s River Derwent on Saturday morning.
An orange flare was fired at 7.42am – the sunrise signal for red-capped swimmers to drop their towels and streak for the water.
What followed was a chorus of shrieking and wailing, with some swimmers making it all the way to the pontoon, while others darted back to land after just a few seconds in the water.
An orange flare was fired at 7.42am – the sunrise signal for red-capped swimmers to drop their towels and streak for the water
A record-breaking 1915 people took the chilly winter solstice plunge in Hobart’s River Derwent on Saturday morning
The air temperature was a nippy 5C, while the temperature in the water hovered over the low teens.
The oldest participant among the bare crowd was 91-year-old Joy Walter, who took the plunge for the first time.
‘I only got in halfway. It was very cold and I fell in a hole, so there was no option to keep going,’ she said, rugged up and back on dry land.
The air temperature was a nippy 5C, while the temperature in the water hovered over the low teens
Nearly 2,000 people stripped off and braved near-freezing waters for a midwinter dip to mark the shortest day of the year
To prepare for the icy dip, Ms Walter did a pretend solstice swim with her late husband several years ago but was determined to do the real thing.
‘I thought, “I can have a real one now”. It was a bit confronting (getting naked), as was getting dressed afterwards. But it was lovely,’ she said.
‘Maybe I’ll be back next year. (Now) I’ve got the cap to prove it.’
Some swimmers took the opportunity to share political messages, with ‘Keep Tassie Wild’ and ‘No Cable Car’ written on people’s backs in red lipstick.
The message was in reference to the proposed development up Hobart’s lofty Mt Wellington.
The swim, which is a symbolic act of purification, has come a long way since starting seven years ago in 2013 with just 230 participants
A couple from Mount Isa in Queensland even used the event to tie the knot, with the crowd cheering them on.
The swim, which is a symbolic act of purification, has come a long way since starting seven years ago in 2013 with just 230 participants.
About 2200 people aged 18 and over registered this year, but drizzly weather most likely kept some in bed.
About 2200 people aged 18 and over registered this year, but drizzly weather most likely kept some in bed
But this year’s 1915 participants breaks the 2018 mark of 1537 swimmers.
Hobart residents Josh Vallelonga and Sam Bell were also first-time nude swimmers, and said they’d like to return next year.
‘We psyched ourselves up. Ducked our shoulders in, started screaming and ran out,’ Ms Bell said.
‘I’d definitely do it again. I’m ready for a hot bath.’
Some swimmers took the opportunity to share political messages, with ‘Keep Tassie Wild’ and ‘No Cable Car’ written on people’s backs in red lipstick – a reference to the proposed development up Hobart’s lofty Mt Wellington