Choosing to take part in a swimming race in the middle of a South Island winter seems an unlikely choice, but five Wānaka swimmers jumped at the chance at last weekend’s first-ever Ice Mile Swimming Championships.

The members of the Wānaka Lakes Swimmers Club travelled to Alexandra for the competition, competing in nothing more than one standard swimming costume, one pair of goggles, and one standard swimming silicone cap.

“We looked for the coldest place in the country, found Ophir, and then looked for the closest outdoor pool,” event director Susan Sherwen said.  

Under the International Ice Swimming Association’s (IISA) regulations, the water temperature has to stay below five degrees for the competition to take place.

Rachel Armstrong during the 1000m swim. PHOTO: Supplied

When it rose to 4.9 degrees on one day of the competition, the following day’s races took place early in the morning to “beat the heat”.

The Wānaka Lakes Swimmers Club members put their experience swimming in Lake Wānaka to the test and came away with top results.

Club members Camille Gulick and Rachel Armstrong won the 500 metres and 1000 metres respectively, with Rachel being named New Zealand Ice Queen for having the lowest combined time over the two events.

Individual results were measured against other IISA events from around the world and Camille and Rachel, along with fellow club member Fi Fairbairn, earned global podium finishes.

Camile Gulick swimming 1000m. PHOTO: Supplied

Among the 22 participants five new age group world records were broken.

With the inaugural championships a success, Susan says she is now in full organisational mode for future events, which will include a return to Alexandra next year.

She said the first-ever New Zealand event had been a “wonderful experience”.

The IISA began in 2009 with a vision to make swimming in icy waters a new sport and now has members in 73 countries.