Just chilling

It takes a certain type of person to plunge into the freezing depths of one of the country's coldest lakes in the middle of winter.

- GRAHAME SYDNEY

It’s a Friday in early July, 8.30am, Central Otago’s sky just beginning to lighten, the air temperature at -2°C and every puddle and pond plate-glassed with ice. Down at the water’s edge, competitors, bystanders, helpers, medicos and supporters have gathered in a small canvas village, all clothed in hefty, full-length coats or hooded puffer jackets, wool gloves and tasselled beanies: it’s the ice swimming championships, run by the International Ice Swimming Association Aotearoa NZ, in the 3.5°C chill of St Bathans’ Blue Lake.

Thirty-nine competitors have come from Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, and Nelson, to qualify for the world ice swimming champs next year. One at a time, with the lakeside crowd clapping, shouting and cheering every entry, they head for the far end of the lake. Newcomers are attempting a shorter course, either 50 or 250 metres. Others, the more experienced, will do a kilometre or 1.6km: “the Ice Mile”.

First in the water at 8.30am is the popular Omar, a handsome, stubbled IT expert from Wellington. Embraced by his proud wife, he has no wetsuit (the rules don’t allow wetsuits), no Vaseline (rules again), only goggles against the elements. There is a bright floating buoy attached around his waist. He looks unconcerned, confident even. He windmills his arms to loosen up before striding into the monochrome grey chill of the lake.

The shoreline chorus cheers: “Go Omar!” “You can do this Omar!” “You’ve got this, Omar!” “It’s just there and back Omar!”