It was calm, it was dry and the thermometer read a comparatively balmy 2°C midday Wednesday for two of the very first events of the 2025 calendar year, the 39th annual Summerland Polar Bear Dip at Trout Creek's Sun-Oka Park and the third annual Naramata Polar Bear Fire Plunge at Naramata's Centre Beach.
Granted, "balmy" is a relative term. This was far from a steamy July afternoon. But given the time of year and the brutal conditions of previous January 1sts (-20°C in 2022), it was flat-out glorious.
And the people (and the dinosaurs) turned out en masse.
The action kicked off first at Trout Creek, where participant and spectator vehicles filled the generous Sun-Oka parking lot and all the roads leading into the park – and most roads across the highway too – fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled noon start time.
If you snoozed, you losed.
PentictonNow estimates the crowd hit approximately 400 at its peak, with perhaps 100 of those actually jumping in the lake.
Fourteen eager swimmers could be found in one family – the Humpini family of Penticton.
It was the largest familial representation we've ever come across at a New Year's Day swim. The youngest was 13, the oldest 52.
Afterwards, they headed for breakfast at Denny's.
Coming from slightly farther afield was Sherry Mortensen of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
"My father-in-law is turning 95," Mortensen, dressed splendidly as The Grinch, explained. "And this is only the second time I've ever tried something like this, so he'll watch from shore and probably laugh.
Mortensen "practiced" for the plunge by taking numerous cold showers in recent days.
Watching over everyone, as they do each year at the event, were members of Penticton Search and Rescue (PenSAR).
"We have nine people here today," said spokesperson Jesse MacDonald. "Four swift water members and five ground station rescue members. And we have four more over at Naramata.
"We do this every year. They ask us to do it and they give us a donation, and we're happy to be here."
Stacy Nodge of organizing body Summerland Kinsmen, which charges no money to swim but asks for donations for the hot drinks, hot dogs and T-shirts they provide, was thoroughly psyched by the turnout.
Nearly as much as he is about next year.
"As you can see," he said as he served up hot chocolate, "this event is turning out better and better every year. And 2026 will be really great. It'll be the 40th."
As Nodge spoke, excitement was just beginning to ramp up across the lake in Naramata for the 1 PM start of that community's Polar Bear Fire Plunge. The far younger event, originating in 2023, benefits the Naramata Fire Fighters Society.
A half hour later, Centre Beach was home to a couple hundred people and a clearly upbeat vibe.
One of the most upbeat, as he often is, was Snakebite Film Festival organizer and celebrated Penticton-based LGBTQ+ spokesperson Carl Meadows, who cavorted about in partial drag and brought smiles to the faces of virtually everyone. Accompanying Meadows was hubby Les Dyck and a group of friends, all of whom wore neon pink wigs.
Also on the beach were globetrotting besties Kalina Eisenmann and Harper Doull.
Eisenmann, who lives in Summerland when she's not studying international business in the Netherlands, skipped her side of the lake in favour of Naramata to catch up with her buddy.
Doull, who just moved back home to Penticton after living in southern Africa for the past couple years, said she loved the overseas experience but is happy to be home.
"I lived there for two years and just moved back ten days ago," said the employee of Naramata's Just Baked coffee shop. "I'll miss it, but I have family and friends here and that’s great."
The two opted for the Fire Plunge when Doull saw a promo.
"I saw it and said, frick yeah, we can do that," she laughed. "We have nothing else going on."
For Lou Meinardus of Naramata, the 2025 event would be her second Fire Plunge. And she wasn't going to let a leg cast stop her.
"I fell at the hockey rink," she sheepishly told us. "And now I have four broken bones in my foot.
"But that's okay. The PenSAR people are going to help me into the water."
Volunteer co-organizer Will van Middendorp, whose wife belongs to the Naramata Fire Fighters Society (and who's taken the plunge himself every year), explained the origins.
"We started it as a fundraiser for the Fire Fighters Society, but also to bring the community, family and friends together to start off the new year," he said.
"Seeing the support from everyone, I truly am proud to call Naramata home."
Ultimately, the 2025 iterations of the Naramata and Summerland events raised in excess of $3,000 each for their worthy organizing bodies.
But they weren't the only south Okanagan swims to unfold on New Year's Day 2025.
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Down near the border, the sixth annual Osoyoos Desert Dip compelled 110 brave souls to dive into Osoyoos Lake, including two over the age of 90.
Due to obvious time constraints, PentictonNow couldn't get there in person. But we did get a few pics from lead organizer Ken Baker of the Osoyoos Festival Society.
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Happy new year.
