Advice and helpful hints


Getting There

  • Put your swimsuit on before you leave your home (saves a few seconds of exposure to cold).
  • Shoot to arrive by 12:40 at the latest (12:30 is better). The event is quite big on nice weather years, and the parking at Auke Rec is very linear, so there's going to be lots of walking, which can make you late (plus you need prep time).

Countdown procedure

Announcements of time remaining until the lineup will be made at logical intervals. It's recommended to stay ready but still mostly clothed until about the 2-minute warning. The call to line up will happen with 30 seconds to go, and we'll count down from ten seconds.

What to wear and bring

  • The wind chill is more important than the ambient temperature. Plan what you wear around being wet in the wind. NOAA forecast.
  • Look after your people, especially first-timers. The frostbite risk is real if they don't know how to dress. If you're bringing an exchange student from the equator, it's your responsibility to make sure they aren't going home in a wet T-shirt and no socks (we've seen this!).
  • Wear big, warm, loose clothes to put back on afterward. You know how it's hard to put socks onto wet feet? Your whole body will be like that, with impaired manual dexterity to boot.
  • Bring a stocking hat for after.
  • Footwear for the water is essential (the beach is rocky and sharp). Neoprene booties and Chacos are popular. Tennies work too, if you can still untie the laces when you get out. Don't wear flipflops, they usually come right off your feet as soon as you hit the water.
  • Warm winter boots for before and after (especially after) are key. Don't go home in your wet shoes.
  • Bring a big towel. Large ones are nice for taking your suit off underneath (maintains a little modesty) and blocking wind. If you bring an extra towel, you can stand on it / wrap it around your feet while drying off the rest of you. Makes a big difference.
  • If you really want to be pro, bring a tarp to spread out on the rocks. It helps keep things dry and is nice to sit on and you'll make all sorts of temporary friends if you have one there. BUT! Please make sure your tarp placement doesn't take up space people need for safely running in and out (especially on high tide days).
  • Check the tide chart to know what you're getting into. Above 15 feet means limited beach space. Below 10 feet means a long run through shallow water.

What to do afterward

  • There's usually a fire going. Pay careful attention to your ears, fingers, and toes. Warm them up gently, and head for warm showers or hot tubs. There's no after-party for the Polar Bear Dip. In fact, it tends to disperse pretty darn quickly for some reason. It's like people really wanted to get into warm cars or something.
  • Be sure to get a participation certificate before you go. They're custom made each year and rhyme so fine.

If you arrive late

  • When people are late they usually go in anyway. You came all this way, so might as well. There's always a few latecomers who go in on their own and love it. Besides, everyone will be watching you and you can make it a show.