Polar Bear Clubs Outside of the United States

Here is information and links to other Polar Bear Clubs around the world, excluding the United States.

Key

	Active Organization
	Status Unknown

(Polar Bear Clubs within the US)
(Extinct Polar Bear Clubs)

	Asia
	China
	Harbin, China There is the annual winter Ice Carving Festival in this northeast city of China, also known as "Moscow of the Orient", and "Ice City". The ice-carved sculptures are very elaborate. Part of the festival includes trained winter swimmers partaking in aquatic shows. For more information: http://visit-china-97.com/4season/winter.htm#2
	Korea
	Asia's Biggest Polar Bear Swim, Haeundae Beach, Busan, Korea The 15th Annual Polar Bear Swim in Korea, was held on Sunday the 27th of January 2002 from 08:00 to 18:00, at the Westin Chosun Beach Hotel, Haeundae Beach, Busan, Korea. The organizer is Adrienna Zsakey.
	Russia
	The Russian Polar Bears Kirov, Russia Reported by Club's head, Viktor S. Bikineev, 11/17/2000. Viktor, residing in Kirov, Russia, participates in many ice swimming events.
	The Russian Walruses Moscow, Russia Reported by Igor Malinin, 1/12/98. Going strong since 1977.
	North America
	Canada
	Nanaimo British Columbia Polar Bear Swim, Canada As brought to my attention by Evelyn Mitchell, this is supposed to be quite famous in Canada. 12/22/1999 Contact info: (250) 752-5014 ttorig@island.net. Parksville Beach, Parksville.
	Ottawa Polar Bear Club, Canada
	Perth, Ontario, Canada This club is about 1 hr west of Ottawa. There are several polar bear swims on Jan 1st in and around Ottawa. Reported by Don Clinton, (12/30/98).
	Panama Swimming Club, Whitley Bay, North East of England in in the North Sea
	Windsor Downtown Mission Polar Bear Dip, Windsor, Ontario, Canada Now in its 11th year this is one of the oldest and largest polar dips in Southwestern Ontario. Held every December to cap off the year, approximately 160 people brave fridge water at Sand Point Beach. Monies raised support the programs and services of the Downtown Mission. Contact Number (519) 973-5573. (Source: Michelle Girard, 11/21/02)
	Europe
	Belgium
	Deurnese IJsberen, Belgium, Near Antwerp Reported May, 2006, by Gerda Verlinden
	Frozen Bananas, Belgium, Ghent A banana can denote a certain male body part - check it out! Submitted March 2006, by Pascal Bleys
	Royal Swimming Club "De Ijsberen" (The Polar Bears), Belgium, Boom
	Zwemclub De Brugse Ijsberen (Brugge Polar Bear Swim Club), Belgium, Brugge. Contact Alain Adriaens, Administrative Lieutenant. Submitted Apr, 2002, by Franky Moelaert
	Denmark
	Denmark has several clubs including one in Helsingør (Trygve Bauge). Also check out: http://www.vinterbad.subnet.dk/ http://www.isbjornen.com/andreklubber.html http://www.vifu.dk/ (Bjørn Houdorf, April, 2002).
	Ireland
	Water polo teams and players organize much of the open water swimming in Ireland. The province of Munster, in the South-West, we have over 200 organised swims in the nearby sea, rivers, and lakes. The largest, on 19 July, is a 1.25 mile swim, 1700 m downstream the Lee River through Cork City, and 300 m upstream the South Channel of the Lee River (see map). 343 swimmers attended in 2007, and crowds in excess of 4,000. We guarantee a great party following the swim! Online registration for the `Vibes & Scribes' Lee Swim 2008 is now open. Also, the 2008 Sandycove Island Challenge, 1,600 meter route in the sea around Sandycove Island in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. 220 swimmers entered in 2007 (cf. same website). Source: Ned Denison, Spring 2008
	Italy
	Borghetto Santo Spiritoas, Italy. The Cimento Invernale di Nuoto club bathes December 27th. Check the site out! (Source: Antonio Billeci, Jan 27, 2007).
	Finland
	Finland has thousands of saunas and icebathers associated with most of these (Source: Trygve Bauge).
	Germany
	Plauer See Eisbeeren, Mecklenburg Lake District, Germany The Plauer See (Lake) is halfway between Berlin and the Baltic Sea.
	Winterschwimmen und Eisbaden, Germany More photos
	Great Britain
	Jersey Polar Bears, Jersey, a Great Britain protectorate These Polar Bears are headquartered at the Havre des Pas outdoor swimming pool, next to the sea, south east of St. Helier, the Island’s capital. Jersey is situated at the western end of the English Channel. Reported by Dilys Maletroit, 1/15/07.
	In Praise of Colder Women, Great Britain This is a very icy, and fleshy / flashy web page - be forewarned!
	Winter Swimming Championships, London, England This annual event is held by South London Swimming Club, at Tooting Bec Lido, the largest outdoor swimming pool in London. The event is the 8th through the 10th. February 2008. (See poster)
	Netherlands
	North Sea, Netherlands Every New Years Day in the Netherlands there are several happening around the first step in the North Sea in the Netherlands. This year in Scheveningen, Zandvoort, IJmuiden, Vlissingen and Ostende in Belgium. In Scheveningen is the biggest Dutch swimming party, the last years with over 10.000 people. The party starts at noon. Three years Jan made an impression; you can see them: photo-gallery from www.photoart.nl choose Life-Style and look for Nieuwjaarsduik (2002) and Noordzeeduik (1999 and 2000). The URL's are: http://www.photoart.nl/janblankestein/1eDuik.htm, http://www.photoart.nl/Photoart/Noordzee2000.htm, http://www.photoart.nl/Photoart/Nieuwjaar.htm Reported by Jan Blankestein, 12/29/02.
	Norway
	Norway There are other Norwegian icebathing clubs in Trondhjem, Bergen, Eidsvold, Narvik, Grense Jacobs Elv, Tromsø etc. No other information available.
	The Norwegian Icebathing Association, (Norsk Isbade Klubb), Oslo, Norway Trygve Bauge started this club in his home country Norway in 1995. Look for details into health routines, amoung many other topics.
	Ice Bears, Melbu, Norway This is in the Lofoten area some 200 miles north of the polar circle. Reported by Morten Bachke, 12/31/97, at: Vesteraalen.data@eunet.no
	Poland
	Walrus Club, Hel, Poland This soon to begin club is reported by Elizabeth T. Merrick .
	Sweden
	Sweden has several clubs including one in Malmø (Source: Trygve Bauge).