Polar Bear Swim 2008 (88th Annual)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
January 1, 2008

• History
• Safety Tips
• Statistics

The Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Its 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 2:30pm 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. Prizes will be drawn from the entry forms filled out or turned in from the Province newspaper at the Swim registration table.

For further information about the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim Club, contact: Glenn Schultz of the Vancouver Aquatic Centre.

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2008 Event Photo Gallery

Photos courtesy Cliff Lemire, except as noted  -  Click on thumbnail to view full-size image

English Bay Beach - backdrop for the swim	Some of our Police Support	Our "Registration Team" getting ready	"No Clowning Around", registration begins
"Furry Heads"	Polar Bears' Hockey Team	"He shoots", does he score?	Anybody for Ruggah?
The Vikings legend of participation continues!	The "Super Dupers" first year	The crowd builds and awaits	The "Tape Breaks" and the Swim is on!
For some it's a very quick dip	It's a generational experience	Are those Santa's reindeer?	Swim Winner Trevor Olson being interviewed by Rory Richards of Telus TV
Winners Trevor Olson & Khristie Zychowka with Pres. Lisa Pantages and Past Pres. Basil Pantages	The Pantages clan, founding family of the Polar Bear Swim	Participants appreciating Jeff Low, the Fox's MC for the event	Celestial Seasonings Mascot & friends
Overhead view of crowd Maryse Pepin photo	Overhead view of crowd Maryse Pepin photo	Panoramic shot courtesy of Jay Erickson Click and drag to pan the picture (requres Quicktime)

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2008 Event Statistics

	2007	2008
Air Temperature	8°C / 46 °F	5°C / 41°F
Water Temperature	8°C / 46°F	6.5°C / 44°F
Weather	Rain	Cloudy
No. of Registered Swimmers (record 2,128 in 2000, previous record 2,095 in 1983)	1,601	1,787
Winner of the Peter Pantages Memorial Trophy	1st: Trevor Olson 2nd: Erik Reid 3rd: Harley Binder 1st female: Mabel Elmore	1st: Trevor Olson 2nd: Tom Springer 3rd: Erik Reid 1st female: Khristie Zychowka
President Polar Bear Swim Club	Lisa Pantages	Lisa Pantages
Past President	Basil Pantages	Basil Pantages
Announcer	Mike Cohen	Jeff Low
Promotion and Commemorative Buttons	Province Newspaper, Vancouver Park Board, Pantages family, 99.3 the FOX	Province Newspaper, Vancouver Park Board, Pantages family, 99.3 the FOX
P.A. and Music	99.3 the FOX	99.3 the FOX
Safety and First Aid	Vancouver Park Board	Vancouver Park Board
Event Information	Glenn Schultz Vancouver Aquatic Centre 1050 Beach Avenue Vancouver, BC  V6E 1T7 Phone: 604-665-3418 Email: glenn.schultz@vancouver.ca

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2008 Polar Bear Swim Prize Winners

Many thanks to the following companies who donated prizes to the 2008 swim :

99.3 THE FOX
AQUABUS
CELESTIAL SEASONINGS TEA
COCA-COLA
PROVINCE NEWSPAPER
STEPHO'S SOUVLAKI GREEK TAVERNA
VANCOUVER PARK BOARD
VAN DUSEN GARDENS
WATERMARK RESTAURANT AT KITS BEACH

The following names were drawn for prizes from the signed entry forms received at English Bay Beach:

Ballance Owen New Westminster Breezy Ballantyne Vancouver Molly Bushell Vancouver Kelly Christie Coquitlam David Cristofoli Richmond Ray Gibbs Vancouver Kim Gilmore Langley

Maxine Haberl Burnaby Rob Irwin New Westminster James Johnson Vancouver Lori McBlain Abbotsford Bobby McKay Surrey Suman Mahtani Burnaby James Munro Vancouver

Jordan Parente Vancouver Kevin Tam Richmond Todd Simpson Vancouver Melissa Valentine Langley Leanna Verkade Richmond Shunsaku Yamazaki Vancouver

Winners will be notified by mail

2008 Polar Bear Swim T-Shirts

There are a few T shirts and hooded shirts left that can be purchased at the Vancouver Aquatic Centre (1050 Beach Ave., phone 604-665-3421). Prices are $15 for the T shirts and $25 for the hooded shirts.

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