Event Wrap - 2024 Ice Swimming NZ & Southern Hemisphere Pool Championships
Over the past week, some of our bravest swimmers from around the country have converged on Alexandra to swim at the 2024 Ice Swimming NZ & Southern Hemisphere Pool Championships. Taking place in the outdoor pool in less than freezing conditions, different distance events were held between Wednesday 10 - Saturday 13 July.
For those who don't yet know what Ice Swimming is, it involves swimming in water at a temperature of 5.0C (or less) unassisted, with a silicon cap, pair of goggles and standard swimming costume. The international body, the International Ice Swimming Association, have established a comprehensive set of safety and swimming rules together with worldwide swim records.
We congratulate the 49 swimmers who braved the conditions to race different distances, ranging from 50m to 1000m. Each of the strokes were offered over the 50m and 100m distances. For the longer swims, we had 23 complete the 1000m challenge and 36 finish the 500m - an incredible achievement!
The water temperature for the four days was between 2.1C and 2.5C degrees and the outside temperature fluctuated between -4C and 1C degree. In this case, we'd like to give a special shoutout to the incredible medical team on hand that played an integral role in ensuring the safety of every swimmer after each time they were in the water.
Whilst everyone completing a swim should be commended, there are some participants who achieved some World Records.
Aquablack #245 Laura Quilter (Coast) continued her fine form from the 2024 NZ Masters Swimming Championships last month to break four World Records (Open) in the 50m and 100m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly and 100m Backstroke as she competed for the first ice swimming competition. Joining her was Paralympic Gold Medallist, Mary Fisher, who set a World Record in the 200m Individual Medley (SM11). Emilia Finer (Neptune & Swim Dunedin) had an impressive few days posting three World Records (Open) in the 250m Freestyle, 100m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley. Local Sophie Winter (Alexandra - 100m Individual Medley) also took home a World Record (Open) as did Cameron Stanley (200m Individual Medley).
There were a host of World Records broken in respective age groups which we have listed in detail below. Congratulations to all swimmers for these world-class achievements.
The winner of the King of the Ice was Cameron Stanley and the Queen of the Ice was Emilia Finer. They received this honour for owning the fastest combined time in the 500m and 1000m Freestyle for male and female respectively.
A highlight for many was the relay that was held (North v South v West) with 15 swimmers per team taking part. West took home the honours ahead of North then South.
SNZ's Team Logistics Coordinator and avid open water swimmer, Bex Bowden, took part in the 250m, 500m and 1000m swims at the championships.
"It's like nothing else. You achieve a euphoric state, it's a complete emotional and physical rollercoaster filled with both pain and pride. It's a journey from the time you enter the near freezing water to exiting the medical tent."
Bowden noted there is something about ice swimming that keeps drawing her back.
"The thing that keeps bringing me back is that every ice swim you complete, the journey is so different. Given the excellent safety provided at the championships, it allows you to push your body to its limits. The support and camaraderie of everyone there are vital to getting you through."
Those who have completed the 1000m over the weekend have qualified to swim the Ice Mile (open water) in St Bathans next year.
Congratulations to all of the swimmers and thank you especially needs to go to the Event Director Susan Sherwood for the delivery of the championships, the racing wouldn't have gone ahead without her.
Results
Some results are still yet to be published, but most races have been published on the event webpage. All records are subject to usual ratification processes.
World Records
Open (WR)
Emilia Finer
250m Freestyle
100m Butterfly
200m Individual Medley
Mary Fisher
200m Individual Medley (SM11)
Laura Quilter
50m Freestyle
50m Butterfly
100m Freestyle
100m Backstroke
Cameron Stanley
200m Individual Medley
Sophie Winter
100m Freestyle
Age Group (WR)
Jackson Arlidge (30-34yrs)
200m Individual Medley
Rachel Averill (55-59yrs)
200m Individual Medley
Laetitia Berten (35-39yrs)
200m Individual Medley
Quinn Boyle (18-24yrs)
200m Individual Medley
Hannah Drury (45-49yrs)
200m Individual Medley
Mary Fisher (30-34yrs)
200m Individual Medley
Madeline Hobo (Junior 16-17yrs)
500m Freestyle
Tate Pichon (25-29yrs)
200m Individual Medley
Cameron Stanley (35-39yrs)
100m Backstroke
Breanna Ward (25-29yrs)
200m Individual Medley
Heidi Winter (Junior 16-17yrs)
100m Individual Medley
200m Individual Medley
