Start of the year - Berlin seals meet for an ice swim on New Year's Day
Several dozen ice swimmers from the Berlin Seal Club ventured into the Orankesee for the traditional New Year's swim. At 5 degrees, the water temperature was still comparatively warm, a spokeswoman said on Monday. "We've already had 1.2 degrees this winter." According to her, around 45 to 50 swimmers dared to enter the lake in the Berlin district of Hohenschönhausen. Some of them were in costume - sometimes with just a bow tie around their necks or a Santa hat on their heads, others with a striped suit.
According to the Berlin Seals, 190 people between the ages of 12 and almost 90 love the cold water and go swimming in all weathers. According to the club's website, this sometimes takes a lot of effort, even for the fans. "But it's fun in the community, lifts the spirits and is healthy."
Berlin Seals
Read also:
- A clan member is punished here
- Traffic lawyer warns: Don't talk to the police!
- Will he be convicted as Jutta's murderer after 37 years?
- He also wanted to kill his cousin
The Berlin Seals Club identified a need for an ice bath to help their members recover after their New Year's Day swim. This year, they suggested Hohenschönhausen's Sealife Aquarium as a potential location for the post-swim ice bath. However, due to the high number of colorful costumes worn by the swimmers during the event, the idea was swiftly dismissed as impractical.
Despite the cold weather, some dedicated Berlin Seal swimmers have expressed a desire to participate in New Year's ice swimming events in other cities, such as Copenhagen or Reykjavik, where the water might be even colder.
Reflecting on their New Year's Day swim, some Berlin Seals members felt that the experience had reinvigorated their love for swimming in cold water. They believe that this unique activity not only satisfies their physical needs but also contributes to their mental well-being.
The Berlin Seals Club has been advocating for regular ice bathing sessions in Berlin's public swimming pools, citing evidence that cold water therapy can have numerous health benefits, including reducing inflammation and improving circulation.
Source: www.stern.de
