By Nancy King Cape Breton Post
SYDNEY — Every year since a group of hearty souls began the tradition of taking the plunge into frigid waters in South Bar on New Year’s Day, Peter Hanna has been there.
Peter Hanna, 72, an accomplished endurance athlete from Whitney Pier, is ready for his 30th annual polar bear dip on New Year’s Day.
And there’s nowhere else the 72-year-old intends to be when the 30th edition of the popular polar bear dip takes place Tuesday.
Hanna was part of the group of about a half-dozen people who founded the event, which has also now become a tradition in a number of other communities in Cape Breton.
“I’m one of these people that I start doing something and it gets to be a habit,” Hanna said. “I do a lot of silly things, I guess, you could call them silly, I run marathons, I do the Ironman, I’m just one of those achievers, I guess.”
His healthy lifestyle means he’s been able to avoid health issues others may encounter as they age such as gaining weight, blood pressure concerns or diabetes.
“I just feel that I can continue to go on as long as I can, and I hang out with younger people because people that are my age, they don’t do what I do,” Hanna said.
The veteran advises those who may be taking part in a polar bear swim for the first time to put their minds and bodies into it, but to make sure they don’t stay in the water too long.
“It’s going to be a shock to get in that cold water, regardless of if it’s a nice day or not, but they can do it, and a lot of them just jump in and jump right out again, they’ll achieve it if they want to do it,” he said.
His technique is now mostly get-in-and-get-out, Hanna said, but in the past he liked to swim around for a little bit, depending on conditions.
The swim is normally held at Polar Bear Beach, but if waves are too rough it is moved to the South Bar wharf. It starts at 1 p.m.
In other communities in Cape Breton that hold polar bear swims they are often used as an opportunity to raise funds for local organizations.
The fifth annual Lawrence Desrosiers memorial polar bear dip takes place at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Day at the Lingan wharf. Festivities will continue after the swim at the Rack N Roll, with free soup and chili and an evening of music.
Jillian Oliver MacDonald, one of the organizers, said the event has grown each year with 100-150 of all ages people generally taking part and it usually raises $3,500-4,000 for bursaries for students at Breton Education Centre.
While she doesn’t take part herself, Oliver MacDonald said her husband and most of her family take the plunge.
“When they’re out there it’s pretty exciting, they’re pretty hyped up until that last second beforehand, they run and there’s no turning back after the whistle blows,” she said. “When you hear that whistle blow you almost want to go yourself but I’m not that brave.”
The community of Port Morien and Branch 55 of the Royal Canadian Legion will hold their first New Year’s Day polar swim on New Year’s Day. Registration begins at 11 a.m. at the Port Morien sand shore with the swim at 1 p.m. A light lunch at the legion and a levee will follow. Half of the proceeds from the event will go to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Cancer Patient Care Fund, with the remainder going to the Port Morien Legion/community centre.
The North Sydney event which takes place at Rollie’s Wharf has been running for about two decades. Organizer Brad Rahey of the Dive Shop is assisted by divers Stacey Pettipas and Chris Markotich. Registration begins at 11 a.m. with the dip taking place at noon. Rahey noted most year it attracts close to 100 swimmers, while the wharf is packed with spectators.
“It’s a real big hit,” he said. “I guess it’s mainly to see who has the guts to do it.”
They’ve been taking temperature readings of the water, and it’s currently about 2 C, Rahey noted.
“It’s a pretty nasty blow to your system when you go into water that cold,” he said, adding there are safety divers on hand in the water to watch for anyone who may experience distress.
In Waycobah, the third annual polar bear swim starts at noon on New Year’s Day at the old fishery look-off, off the Trans-Canada Highway.
A swim is also held in Baddeck, taking place in front of the Bras d’Or Yacht Club. It will be the 27th annual swim, and has been renamed in memory of former organizer Art McNeil, who died earlier this year. It takes place on New Year’s Day at 2 p.m. and will be followed by live entertainment.