Over 100 Brave Souls Take Plunge at Borkum's Delayed New Year's Day Swim
Borkum, Germany - The popular New Year’s Day swim organized by the DLRG Ortsgruppe Borkum faced the trials of stormy weather, resulting in its postponement until the following Saturday. But what might have been seen as merely a delay turned out to be a festive event with 104 participants taking the plunge on the rescheduled date.
Among the chilled waters and under the cloudy skies, the hardy souls gathered at the beach section near the DLRG clubhouse 'Middelhüsche', where they chose to submerge themselves brave the cold. The air boasted temperatures of just 2 degrees Celsius, with the North Sea water even chillier at approximately 6 degrees. Many participants donned costumes, adding flair to the icy plunge.
According to Britta Erdwiens from DLRG Borkum, festive spirits remained high, even if participation wasn't as high as previous years. "And if there were only 50 participants, I would be fine with it," she stated, already reflecting on the event's community spirit and participation.
Adding to the fun and energy were four individuals arriving straight from Pfalz, dressed as Vikings. They had not planned to join but found out about the swim the night before at their local tavern. Marcel Form, representing the Cultural and Sports Club Breunigweiler, shared their spontaneous decision: "We heard about this event yesterday at the local pub and decided to join. We didn’t train for weeks!" Their Viking costumes weren’t just for show; the team intended to capture their experience on film, set to debut at their upcoming carnival session.
While the numbers reflected fewer participants compared to previous years—2014 saw 366 brave souls enter the icy waters—the atmosphere remained vibrant and cheery. The record participation of 384 participants was nearly toppled during the New Year’s swim event, and the day’s attendance still instilled satisfaction among organizers.
Marcel and his Viking crew may have had their fun, but they made clear this might be their one and only attempt at such a chilling event. Reflecting on their daring decision, he humorously concluded, "It was fun, but we will never do it again. The (real) boys from the coast are definitely made of sterner stuff!"
With the sun setting on another thrilling swimming spectacle, the folks of Borkum managed to keep their New Year tradition alive, proving once again: when there’s determination and community spirit, happiness can always be found, even on the cold shores of the North Sea.