** We’re into Polar Bear & Penguin Season and everyone seems to be getting the hang of it ............
There's a looooong way to go yet and if you're thinking 'well this isn't too bad ' - hold that thought - we'll revisit it in January and February when the water is at it's coolest and the weather is at its mardiest 🙂
There's lots of tips from other Penguins over on the facebook group so if you haven't yet joined the link is below - and you'll need to enter the code / password Ice Cream to be approved.
Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/polarbearchallenge)
There's still a lot of folk asking about swim tracking and check in so to clarify the process ................
On the first of the month following the month for which you are reporting I will open the check in forms and send you a link. On the first of December the forms will open for November's info.
The check in form will be on the Polar Bear Challenges website and will also be sent to you via email. You have 10 days to send the form back to me otherwise I will assume you have dropped out and will remove you from the challenge.
There is a section on the form for you to input your total distance swum in the month and I can track that for you on the swim lists if you complete this.
It's a simple form - I don't require any evidence unless you are submitting a Jedi or Ninja swim at 7 degrees or less. If that's you then you'll have separate instructions at that point.
You’ll also be able to let me know at check in if you are an EXTREME Penguin - you MUST let me know on November’s form as, after November, you won't be able to upgrade from Standard to Extreme Penguin.
There's a box on the form to complete with your monthly swim distance if you wish so if you want me to track your competed metres then that'll appear on the swim lists.
When you send in your data I will update the swim lists.
This will not be immediate - it will take a day or two as I have to manually check and export the data individually for every check in - that's 2000+ data lines so it takes a while to sort it out.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE only submit your form ONCE when you've done all your swims and have your final metres total, If everybody adds a few metres on a new form at the last minute for a last minute swim that would double my workload !!!!!!!
FOR NOVEMBER ONLY - After November's check in - everyone will be shuffled around - either up or down - depending on what they achieved in November - https://polarbearchallenges.com/faqs so you will automatically be upgraded at that time if you’ve done the swims for a higher level.
( This doesn’t apply to Jedi / Ninja or Apprentice levels which have to be entered at registration )
IMPORTANT - After November you can only drop DOWN or from Polar Bear to Penguin or from Penguin Extreme to Penguin Standard - not Vice Versa
IMPORTANT - if you decide to drop out of the Challenge it's vital that you let me know on the Drop Outs and Changes form on the website.
Swim Lists (https://polarbearchallenges.com/2025-26-swim-lists)
‘Changes’ form (https://polarbearchallenges.com/changes-form)
There is a paper form on the website you can download to track your swims. This is a form for you to use to keep your own records - it is NOT the check in form.https://polarbearchallenges.com/swim-log
Alternatively you could treat yourself to the Official Polar Bear & penguin handbook which contains swim logs and lots of info on the challenges - available on Amazon.
Official Polar Bear & Penguin handbook & Swim Log (https://polarbearchallenges.com/official-polar-bear-and-penguin-challenge-handbook-and-swim-log)
There’s swimhats and bobble hats available via the shop on the website and embroidered hoodies are also available but because they are custom printed they take about 4 weeks so have to be ordered in the next week or so - after that they will be unavailable.
If you’ve got your eye on Christmas presents already - Don’t dilly dally, get an order in ASAP. !
Shop - Swimhats / Bobble Hats and stuff (https://polarbearchallenges.com/shop)
Embroidered Hoodies (https://customclubclothing.co.uk/shop/index.php?c=731)
Regular Saturday emails have been sent since 4th October so if you’ve missed any they are available on the email archive here
https://polarbearchallenges.com/october-2025-emails
Stay Chilled
MamaBear
( Pauline Barker MBE )
