Annual New Year's Eve Dip Sets Predominant Trend for Coming Year
In the heart of Reykjavik, the unusual New Year's Day swim of 2023 took place at the unique Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach, where participants braved record cold temperatures and thick ice to celebrate the start of the year.
Herdís Anna Þorvaldsdóttir, chairperson of SJÓR, the Reykjavik Sea Swimming Association, expressed her joy at being able to gather for the swim after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. She stated, "It was a beautiful experience, with the unusual cold temperatures (-2.2°C) and thick ice over the water."
The beach, known for its mixing of hot and cold water, typically offers a more temperate sea swimming experience, with winter temperatures ranging from 4°C to 6°C and summer temperatures reaching 12°C to 13°C. However, the unusual cold weather made the swim a challenge for the more than a hundred participants who had gathered for the New Year's Eve swim on December 31, 2022.
Though specific details about participants wearing fancy attire during the swim were not available, it is common for New Year's Day swimmers around the world to don festive or unusual outfits, adding a fun and celebratory aspect to the event.
Þorvaldsdóttir herself wore a sequined gown for the swim, which she found helped with the cold. She believes that the New Year's Day swim produces well-being and joy, setting a positive tone for the year.
Despite the cold, Þorvaldsdóttir emphasised the importance of caution during the swim due to the extreme conditions. The record cold temperature of -2.2°C, first hit in 2018 and equalled several times this year, including on December 31, 2022, made the swim a truly unique experience.
The New Year's Day swim was participated by the whole group that attended on December 31, 2022. Many participants were dressed in thematic styles, adding to the celebratory atmosphere of the event. Þorvaldsdóttir described the swim as "beautiful" due to the thick ice, which made the experience even more memorable.
After the swim, participants could warm up in the beach's additional amenities, including hot tubs and steam rooms, making Nauthólsvík a popular spot for sea swimming enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy a cold dip.
In conclusion, the New Year's Day swim at Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach was a challenging yet joyful event, bringing together sea swimming enthusiasts to celebrate the start of the new year in an unusual yet beautiful way.
- Nature's unique beauty was on full display during the New Year's Day swim, as participants braved record cold temperatures and thick ice at the Nauthólsvík Geothermal Beach.
- The New Year's Day swim not only provided a memorable outdoor-living experience for the participants but also served as a backdrop for an array of festive and thematic attire, making the event a fun lifestyle affair.
- After the swim, participants retired to the beach's additional amenities such as hot tubs and steam rooms, combining the home-and-garden comfort with the thrill of a chilly dip in the sea, making Nauthólsvík a popular spot for sea swimming enthusiasts all year round.
