- Title: GERMANY: Berlin ice-swimming club takes a chilly Christmas dip
- Date: 25th December 2010
- Summary: ORANKE LAKE, BERLIN, GERMANY (DECEMBER 25, 2010) (REUTERS) MEMBERS OF BERLIN SWIMMING CLUB 'BERLINER SEEHUNDE' (THE BERLIN SEALS) BREAKING ICE FOR SWIM CLUB MEMBER, HARTMUT KUSE, DRESSED AS CHRISTMAS VIKING DOING JOKE STRIPTEASE WHILE CLUB MEMBERS SING VARIOUS OF CLUB MEMBERS SITTING IN FROZEN LAKE CLOSE OF CLUB MEMBERS IN LAKE CLUB MEMBERS WAITING TO TAKE SWIM CLUB MEMBERS IN CHRISTMAS HATS AND CHRISTMAS BIKINIS IN LAKE KUSE GETTING OUT OF LAKE (SOUNDBITE) (German) ICE SWIMMER, HARTMUT KUSE, SAYING: "It's great. We have been doing it for years. Some have been doing it for 30 years. I've been taking an active part for twelve years now. Yes, It's good, wonderful. We are heroes (smiles) It's also a form of self-realisation . It's fun, we're healthy - have a look around you. (Women laughs and agrees) and it's just nice." SWIMMERS IN LAKE (SOUNDBITE) (German) ICE SWIMMER, URSULA KAWOHL, SAYING: "Yes, you are just not allowed to stop doing it in Autumn. When the normal bathing season finishes you just have to keep swimming. Every weekend and then the temperatures outside start to sink slowly and the water temperatures and then... well, sometimes you do have to try harder to convince yourself when it's raining or the weather is just rubbish. But at the end of the day, it's just a lot of fun." ICE SWIMMERS In LAKE ICE SWIMMER GETTING READY IN SNOW WIDE OF LAKE IN SNOW
- Embargoed: 9th January 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany, Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVA165600YECT2LERMOIF8H4RLDI
- Story Text: Members of Berlin's swimming club the 'Berliner Seehunde' or Berlin Seals on Saturday (December 25) donned their Christmas best for an icy dip in their local Oranke Lake.
Thirty or so hardy club members gave up the warmth of Christmas living rooms to hack a hole in the lake's ice for a bit of festive - freezing - fun.
Some of the club's members have been following the tradition for thirty years, relative newcomer, Hartmut Kuse, has been coming for 12.
"I've been taking an active part for twelve years now. Yes, It's good, wonderful. We are heroes (smiles) It's also a form of self-realisation . It's fun, we're healthy - have a look around you. (Women laughs and agrees) and it's just nice."
The club has been going since 1979 and club members say it's not just fun and games, the icy water also has health giving properties and keeps away the winter colds.
But, says Ursula Kawohl, you do need to put a bit of practise in.
"You are just not allowed to stop doing it in Autumn. When the normal bathing season finishes you just have to keep swimming. Every weekend and then the temperatures outside start to sink slowly and the water temperatures and then... well, sometimes you do have to try harder to convince yourself when it's raining or the weather is just rubbish. But at the end of the day, it's just a lot of fun," she said.
The club has around 70 winter swimmers with the winter season beginning in September. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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