The New Zealand Ice Swimming Pool Championships were held in Alexandra this week, and about 50 swimmers from across the country donned their costumes to brave the elements.
The water must be at or below 5°C and competitors must swim unassisted, wearing just a silicon cap, goggles and standard togs.
Event organiser Susan Sherwen said the extreme nature of the sport bred camaraderie.
"The atmosphere over the last two days had been so encouraging, so supportive," she said.
Even during her interview with the Otago Daily Times, Ms Sherwen kept interrupting herself to cheer on swimmer Duncan Kukard.
"Once you start to cheer for someone, you get kind of emotionally attached to them."
Yesterday the water temperature sat at 2.1°C, reflecting the freezing mornings Alexandra had been experiencing.
"2.1[°C], it just adds another dimension of difficulty," Ms Sherwen said.
About half of the swimmers were newcomers to the championships and had done "really, really well", Ms Sherwen said
Australian swimmer Peta Bradley broke her own Australian record for the 1000m freestyle at this week’s championships — she completed the swim in 14min 7sec.
Bradley prepared for the championships with ice baths and open water swimming — sometimes in farm dams.
The water temperature in the dam hovered around 10°C and the temperature of Alexandra’s pool was "a shock", she said.
It was easier knowing there were others taking the plunge alongside her.
Fellow Australian Ben Clavel was taking part in the championship for the first time and "loving it".
"It’s an amazing feeling when you’re in the water doing something not many others do."
Mr Clavel hailed from the outback city of Broken Hill — the water temperature of his local swimming pool rarely got below 12°C.
He was already keen to return for next year’s event.
The championship has produced at least two world records in the 50m open freestyle and 50m open butterfly — both set by swimmer Laura Quilter.
The final day of competition is today.
