Hansen Dam Polar Bear Swim 2009

I have kept the tradition alive...barely. Almost didn't make it to my 4th annual Hansen Dam Polar Bear Swim. I am sure glad I did. Per usual, it was a gorgeous sunny morning in the low 50s, but so nice in the direct sunlight.

My secret weapon this year? Practicing a little in a MUCH colder pool during the week. I decided I wanted to try and swim the entire distance rather than walk across or dolphin leap across the 100 meter pool.

At first it felt great, yet little by little my strength started to drain from my arms, as I got closer to the finish of the swim, the harder it became to make forward progress without allowing my feet to touch the bottom of the pool.

Why do I do it? Because it makes me feel alive. It makes the New Year really FEEL like a new birth. It cleanses me and awakens me to new possibilities and new hopes.

Also, it is the comradeship. People whom I see just once a year on this day at this place. The ritual we share: swimming, warming ourselves by the fire, hot chocolate, smiles and an attempt to sum up our past year in a flurry of flowing words and stories. Delightful.

If you haven't tried it already, I recommend a New Year's Day ritual that allows you to feel reborn and new. The polar bear swim at Hansen Dam is one great way to do it.

What's really beautiful for me this year is the fact that I can look out across the Hansen Dam Recreational Area and see where I live at Weathertop Farms, looking south across the big lake in Hansen Dam. It gives an interesting perspective on life when you can see beautiful mountains and hills, unspoiled by development, all around you...even in LA...a paradise to me.

Polar Bear Swims 2008 - Hansen Dam & Cabrillo Beach

Mom and Me 2008

My family's tradition continues: Polar Bear swims at both the Hansen Dam Swim Lake at 8am (48 degrees) and then at Cabrillo Beach at noon (52 degrees).

This year was especially fantastic because my mom made my Grandma's old recipe for black-eyed peas and corn bread. Oh my GAWD was that good.

Here are some more photos:

The Family, 2008 here we come!

What I want to be when I grow up.

PS. A BIG! thank you to Green Foods. I have been using Green Magma everyday before lunch for the past 3 months. Doing that along with drastically cutting animal products has brought me down to a much lighter 160lbs. from a previous constant of 175lbs. Happy.

Polar Bear Swim 2007 - Dos Lugares

Ona and I made it into the January 2nd Daily News

After the swim - Endorphin kick

Ernie has participated every year at Hansen

Ona braved the cold too.

Polar Bear Swim 2007: Part 1
Location: Hansen Dam Swim Lake

We woke up at 7:30am. The swim began at 8am, so we had to move it in order to get there on time. Sun was out, but it was quite windy. This year I stayed in the shallower side of the pool and ran and porpoised my way to the finish.

Very happy to see many regulars at the pool, including the famous Ernie, a.k.a., Headwig. He has participated every year the Polar Bear swim has been held at Hansen Dam.

Swimming in cold water is extremely exhilarating. I think it must get the endorphins pumping vigorously. I did not feel cold on exiting the water, and this year there was a really nice fire pit and big fire burning at the finish. Very nice.

I hope to do it again next year. We are off to Cabrillo Beach to participate in the Polar Bear Swim there.

Polar Bear Swim 2007: Part 2
Location: Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro, CA

I am pretty sure I am the only person in all of Los Angeles who participated in both City sponsored Polar Bear Events, one at Hansen Dam and the other at Cabrillo Beach.

It just so happens that we live within walking distance of Hansen Dam and my mother within walking distance of Cabrillo. So, it has become a family tradition to swim in both locations on New Year's Day.

Cabrillo was fantastic. Water was quite warm, around 58 degrees. I was among the hearty souls who swam out to the buoy and back, about 1/2 mile.

My mom made some terrific stew that I had as soon as I got out of the water. I also had a nice glass of Port. Come and join us next year.

Before the swim

Family

After the swim.

BFT

Barefoot Ted's Adventures

PS. You can read about last year's swim here. Ona made the Daily News last year, and apparently, we made it again this year.

New Years Polar Bear Swims (plural)

Flash, Ona makes Daily News Newspaper


This year, I did two polar bear swims: one at Hansen Dam near our house, and the other at Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro near my mom's house.

Hansen Dam



Cabrillo Beach






Video footage from Cabrillo Beach Polar Bear Swim 2006