Helen Bolton has been selected as part of the New Zealand Frozen Ferns ice swimming team to compete at the sixth edition of IISA World Championships in Molveno, Italy in January 2025.
Ice swimming is swimming in water of temperatures below 5°C, unassisted, with a silicone cap, pair of goggles and only a standard swimming costume.
Having completed numerous challenges in the past such as a half-ironman, ocean swim series and the Auckland Harbour Crossing Swim, Bolton decided to embark on the new challenge of cold water immersion, and competed at the Southern Hemisphere Ice Swimming Championships in Alexandra this July.
She said it was the benefits associated with cold water immersion that made her continue to take the plunge.
"I’ve found that my mood has improved. I’ve got a higher stress threshold now, boosted energy, reduced inflammation in joints and it’s just a good way to turn your thoughts off because all you can really do is focus on breathing."
Bolton was selected as the only swimmer from South Canterbury to make the mixed, 17-person squad, off the back of a strong showing in Alexandra.
"We did Alexandra and I really enjoyed that and from that I made the worlds.
"I’ve always had the dream to represent New Zealand in something, and it came true.
"I’m really looking forward to competing on the international level and just be with like-minded people and have that camaraderie.
"I think there is over a thousand people competing and it’s a pretty even split of men and women."
She will be competing in the 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and the 100m freestyle.
"I just had my swimming assessed in the weekend so I’ve got a little bit of a programme and some direction.
"I’ll be training three to four times a week in the pool at C-Bay and then probably two to three times cold dipping.
"As it gets warmer I have purchased a second-hand deep freeze chest freezer that I’m going to kit out, plug in and dip at home."
She said she loved the challenge of ice swimming.
"I like seeing how far I can push myself without getting hypothermic.
"Getting to compete on that international level will be great. I’m more focused and have more time to train, so I know I can do better than I did in Alexandra."
Her main goal when it came to ice swimming was to inspire others, she said.
"I just want to inspire people — and I have. My daughter is going to do the 250m at the St Bathans ice swimming competition next year.
"My friend has also just started cold dipping with us at Caroline Bay, so even if it’s just one or two people I can inspire to give it a go and push themselves as far as they can, that’s great."
In order to get to Italy she will have to pay her own way.
Bolton will be running a "have my back" campaign, which will allow people to sponsor her and get her name of the back of her towel, as well as several raffles.
The Frozen Ferns also have a team Givealittle page for anyone wishing to support the team to Italy.
