Polar Bear Swim 2002 (82nd Annual)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
January 1, 2002

• History
• Safety Tips
• Statistics

The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Its first initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of hardy swimmers took the plunge into English Bay on New Year's Day. Led by their founder, Peter Pantages, the swim has grown from around 10 swimmers in that year to the record number of 2,128 official entries in 2000.

Today, the swim takes place at 2:30 pm on the first day of each new year. Costumes and the Peter Pantages Memorial 100 yard swim race are the highlights of this event. To be a club member you must register before the swim. Registration takes place in front of the English Bay bathhouse from 12:30pm - 2:30pm each New Year's Day. You may also register by clipping out the coupon in the Province newspaper and presenting it at the registration desk the day of the swim. Your free membership includes a commemorative button after you take the plunge.

2002 Event Photo Gallery

#1,2 Courtesy of M. Pepin. Click on thumbnail to view full-size image

1. "Birds Eye View" of the Polar Bear Swim	2. "Birds Eye View" of the Polar Bear Swim	3. Perennial participant Ivy Granstrom's 75th Swim	4. First Male, Dave Sage and Female, Alysha Loney - winners of the 100 yard Pantages Swim
5. Basil & John Pantages with the "winners"	6. CFOX M.C. April Cruz along with a costumed "eager beaver" swimmer	7. It was a "ducky" day!	8. The Polar Bear Swim is an event for families...
9. ...and photos of friends in front of "The Province" bear...	10. ...and creative people in costumes

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