Vancouverites strip down for annual Polar Bear Swim (PHOTOS, VIDEOS)

Thousands of people came out to English Bay to help welcome the New Year with a splash, during the annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim.

The annual event once again saw participants shake off the cobwebs of 2017 and plunge right into 2018 with a cool freezing cold dip in the water.

Many of those who attended the event shared their “cool” shots on social media.

See also

• The history of Peter Pantages and the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim
• The SkyTrain turned into a huge New Year's Eve dance party (VIDEOS)
• Canadian parody song 'I froze my brain up in Canada' goes viral (VIDEO)
• 22 magical moments from Concord's New Year's Eve Vancouver celebrations (PHOTOS)

Polar Bear Swim ❄❄🐧! . . . . #2018 #happynewyear2018 #cold #1° #cold #beach #polarbearswim #sun #vancouver

A post shared by Ksenija Bianchi (@ksenija07) on Jan 1, 2018 at 11:09pm PST

So let’s start the year! 💪🏽✌🏽🤙🏽#2018 #haveawonderfulyear #newyearnewgoals #letstart #goahead #letsdoit . . . . . .

A post shared by Guilherme Freitas (@guile.freitas) on Jan 2, 2018 at 9:32am PST

Polar Bear Swim 2018 . English Bay . #Vancouver 🇨🇦❄️🏊‍♂️ . . . . . . .

A post shared by Guilherme Freitas (@guile.freitas) on Jan 2, 2018 at 12:52am PST

❄️ There’s no tiptoeing into cold water ❄️ #polarbearplunge

A post shared by Leah Antonides (@leah.antonides) on Jan 2, 2018 at 12:44am PST

Starting the New Year by plunging into the icy cold waters of English Bay. #happynewyear #polarbearswim

A post shared by vanessa (@nevernotinmotion) on Jan 2, 2018 at 12:31am PST

Went in that beautiful blue water 3 times today –> for some reason I thought I needed to show @sushibath how to dunk her butt in the sea 😂 … she held strong to our lucky shark 🦈👌❤️ #jiujiteiras #polarbearswim #amigas #happynewyear #2018

A post shared by Claire A. (@clairepowpow) on Jan 2, 2018 at 12:08am PST

2018 was off to a #fresh and #sunny start! 🌊☀❄🌊☀❄🌊☀❄🌊 Second time round for us on the annual #newyearsday Polar Bear Swim ✌🏽 . #happynewyear #hny #polarbearswim #annual #tradition #englishbay #beach #winter #coldaf #wediditagain #vancity #vancouver #canada2018 #lukasandjasminesexcellentadventure

A post shared by Jasmine MacLean-Faflíková (@jaz_macflikova) on Jan 1, 2018 at 11:54pm PST

•• Happy New Year! This is going to be the best year so far. How do I know? Last night was this morning. And the morning was amazing. 💃🏻💃🏻 . #polarbearswim #vancouver #englishbay #dailyhivevan #dailyhivestyle #vsco #photography #canon #summer in #winter #canada #bc #expolorebc

A post shared by Suzana (@quirkyandfabulous) on Jan 1, 2018 at 11:07pm PST

Started 2017 with a bang. I didn’t expect to be part of the #polarbearswim this year but I’m glad I did, and I’m glad I did it with someone who made 2017 so special.

A post shared by Andres R (@andresestebanfm) on Jan 2, 2018 at 9:32am PST

A post shared by PJ (@pjrydo) on Jan 2, 2018 at 9:19am PST

New Years Day Polar Bear Plunge

A post shared by CAK (@cakusske) on Jan 2, 2018 at 9:16am PST

A post shared by Ana Cris (@ana_cris_photographer) on Jan 2, 2018 at 9:14am PST

Starting the year off with a #PolarBearSwim with @annakuman @gulseypulsey #cantfeelmylegs

A post shared by Andrew Cohen (@theandrewcohen) on Jan 2, 2018 at 1:31am PST

HELLO 2018 ⭐️⚡️ It’s going to be BRIGHT 💜💞💜 THIS YEAR ⚡️🎆💛 English Bay’s Annual Polar Bear Swim 🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️1.1.11 #2018 #iamsarah #soulwork #energy #awareness #lightworker #healer #vibrations #electromagnetic #MRT #consciousness #wakeup #justbe #heartopening #community #stillness #thoughts #vancouverite #meditation #planetneedsus #wearetheangels #stillnessisthenewsexy #struggle #wearenotourthoughts #judgement #separation #questionyourthoughts #observer

A post shared by brittany sarah (@arizona_wolf) on Jan 2, 2018 at 1:07am PST

Because the firts day of the year we have to swim as bears hahah. Polar Bear Swim 2018. #polarbearswim #vancity #2018 #canadian

A post shared by Debora Aragao (@debyzzz_) on Jan 2, 2018 at 12:05am PST

Polar Bear Swim 🌊 #polarbearswim#canada

A post shared by 민희 김(23) (@m2_ning) on Jan 1, 2018 at 10:44pm PST

Polar bear swim, 2018.

A post shared by ixchelrgwolfe (@larainbowcita) on Jan 1, 2018 at 10:02pm PST

Polar Bear Swim 2018 ☃️🇨🇦💦😱 #vancouverpolarbearswim . . . . . #vancouverpolarbearswim2018 #vancouver #insidecanada #polarbear #swim #vancity #photooftheday #photography #photo #photographer #photojournalism #happynewyear #firstday #day1 #dailyhivevan #dailyhive

A post shared by photographer_FlavioDutra (@photographer_flaviodutra) on Jan 1, 2018 at 9:30pm PST

. Clean my unclean spirit🌊 寒中水泳なんてもうやらないとか言って来年もするんだろうな、、 あ、あけましておめでとうございます🙇🏻 . . . #Canada #Vancouver #nikonphotography #d7200 #landscapephotography #worldbestgram #iglobal_photographers #landscapes #pixel_ig #landscape_lovers #getlost #ig_masterpiece #agameoftones #optoutside #discoverearth #explore #ourplanetdaily #natgeo#写真好きな人と繋がりたい #写真撮ってる人と繋がりたい #ファインダー越しの私の世界

A post shared by Masaru Hayashi (@kepoheji1220) on Jan 1, 2018 at 9:22pm PST

What is -5C for those “polar bears”? 😉o que é -5 graus para esses “ursos polares”😉 – Vancouver’s annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Swim 2018. #polarbear #polarbearswim #coldwater #ocean #beachbum #sunnyday #newyear #happyday #englishbay #vancouver #canada

A post shared by Gilda Prado (@gilda__prado) on Jan 1, 2018 at 9:17pm PST

… Not for those who walk on water 😊

A post shared by flylikeanangel (@flylikeanangel) on Jan 1, 2018 at 9:03pm PST

#vanpolarbearswim #polarswimveteran #portrait #photography

A post shared by Anson (@zla10) on Jan 1, 2018 at 8:22pm PST

RUNNING INTO 2018 LIKE . . . (Kinda cold n fuelled by Bailey’s)

A post shared by hayley (@hdobs) on Jan 1, 2018 at 8:05pm PST

See also

• The history of Peter Pantages and the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim
• The SkyTrain turned into a huge New Year's Eve dance party (VIDEOS)
• Canadian parody song 'I froze my brain up in Canada' goes viral (VIDEO)
• 22 magical moments from Concord's New Year's Eve Vancouver celebrations (PHOTOS)