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Polar Plunge on Thetis an exhilarating experience

Eight swimmers and a dozen supporters mark the start of 2019 in chilling fashion
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Here’s the group of swimmers and land supporters at the Thetis Island Polar Plunge. It’s not the entire group, as some had left before everyone was gathered together for a photo. (Photo by Carol Sowerby)

The Chill is Gone.

It may have only lasted a short time, but those moments were exhilarating for the eight people who braved the elements for the Thetis Island Polar Plunge on New Year’s Day.

The enthusiastic group of polar-blooded folks gathered in Preedy Harbour, just days after the worst storm in recent history. Perhaps it was an excessive amount of heat generated from the unwavering spirit of those who endured the week-long power outage on Thetis over the winter solstice and Christmas that led to repeated polar plunges to make the beginning of 2019 special.

About a dozen people also turned out to show their support for the plungers.

Those in the water used an effective warming strategy to stay in the water a bit longer.

According to participant Kelly Bannister, “the hardest part was getting to the beach after all the log pile from the storm.”

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Genny Redman, Anne-Marie Koeppen, Tatiana Ishwari Nemchin, Carolyn Askew, Gerhard Wanney and Kelly Bannister take a moment before getting all wet. Two other swimmers joined them. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Bannister).
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Dawn Gordon, Kelly Bannister, Gerhard Wanney and Tatiana Ishwari Nemchin use an effective warming strategy in the water. (Photo by Carol Sowerby)
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Tatiana Ishwari Nemchin is fully invigorated after taking the plunge. Still in the water at the time are: Dawn Gordon, Anne-Marie Koeppen, Kelly Bannister and Genny Redman. (Photo by Carol Sowerby)


Don Bodger

About the Author: Don Bodger

I've been a part of the newspaper industry since 1980 when I began on a part-time basis covering sports for the Ladysmith-Chemainus Chronicle.
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