What are the Challenge levels ?
Polar Bear / Penguin Classic - dip, dunk, bob or otherwise 'Just Get In; up to your shoulders twice a month from 1 November to 31 March.
Polar Bear / Penguin Silver - swim 250 metres twice a month from 1 November to 31 March.
Polar Bear / Penguin Gold - swim 1000 metres each month to include at least 250 metres twice a month from 1 November to 31 March.
Arctic Bear / Antarctic Penguin -swim 3000 metres each month to include 250 metres twice a month from 1 November to 31 March
Jedi Bear Apprentice / Ninja Penguin Apprentice - swim 3000 metres each month to include 250 metres twice a month from 1 November to 31 March and also a number of specified swims.
Jedi Bear / Ninja Penguin - swim 3000 metres each month to include 250 metres twice a month from 1 November to 31 March and also a number of specified swims.
When you enter – choose your Challenge – remember that during the course of the Challenge you may go down through the levels but not up. You may swap from Polar Bear to Penguin at any time
E.g. you can enter as Gold, Arctic or Jedi and slide down through Silver and Classic all the way to Penguin if the going gets tough. But you can’t enter as Classic and then upgrade to Gold…
How do I verify my swims ?
You'll receive an email once a month with a link to an online form to send back to confirm you have done your swims. Other than for the Jedi / Ninja or Apprentice levels you do not need to send in any proof as it is an honesty challenge and you are only cheating yourself if you send in incorrect information. PLEASE NOTE - for Jedi / Ninja & apprentice swims at 7.00 degrees or less you will need to send in photographic evidence of the water temperature on TWO DIGITAL thermometers both showing the temperature to 0.1 degrees or a link to the event at which the swim took place. N.B. the temperature MUST show on BOTH thermometers to be the required chilliness. Thermometers with water submersible probes are recommended such as aquarium or baby bath or cooking probe thermometers or you can use the temperature on your watch but that is more tricky as you will need to submerge the watch in your chosen body of water ( not in a bowl or bucket as that can influence the temperature ) for long enough for the temp to stabilise and take a pic of the temp whilst the watch is still submerged.
What are the Jedi Bear / Ninja Penguin specified swims ?
Jedi & Ninja & Apprentice levels
1500 metres at 9 degrees or less
2000 metres at 9 degrees or less
1250 metres at 8 degrees or less
1750 metres at 8 degrees or less
1000 metres at 7 degrees or less
1500 metres at 7 degrees or less
750 metres at 6 degrees or less
1250 metres at 6 degrees or less
450 metres at 5 degrees or less
1000 metres at 5 degrees or less
NB - 1. The specified swims can be included in the 3000 metres monthly total
NB - 2. There must be a minimum of 24 hours between each of the specified swims.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR JEDI BEARS / NINJA PENGUINS.
This is an extreme challenge which should only be attempted by experienced cold water swimmers and a medical check up is advised.
UK temperatures may not get low enough to complete the challenge in the UK so some travel at your own expense may be necessary.
Several of the Jedi swims are individual qualifying swims for an Ice Mile attempt under IISA rules. Please refer to the IISA website for more information on Ice Miles https://www.internationaliceswimming.com/
Can I change my Challenge level ? -
Once the Challenge starts on November 1st you can slide down the scale if you wish but you can’t go up. So you can aim for Jedi and slide down to Arctic, Gold, Silver, Classic. You may swap from Polar Bear to Penguin at any time.
Sea Swimming -
Swimming in the sea is fine but make sure you're not taking advantage of the current/tide. If swimming with the tide then you need to swim as much distance with the tide as you do against it. The sea is warmer than fresh water in the winter.
However if you're swimming on slack tide half an hour either side of the top of the tide then there will be minimal current so that's ok to count as a one way ...
Lake Swimming -
Lake swimming is fine. There's not normally any current to be aware of. Fresh water lakes will be colder than the sea in winter
River Swimming -
Make sure you're not taking advantage of the current/tide. If swimming with the tide then you need to swim as much distance with the tide as you do against it. Fresh water will be cooler than the sea. Some rivers that have strong currents may not be suitable for Polar Bear Challenge swims.
Lido Swimming ( generally unheated only - read on if yours is occasionally heated ) -
Similar to lake swimming lidos are usually colder than the sea in winter. You don't need to worry about any currents or tides but to prevent unfair advantage by turns pushing off the wall you are not allowed to touch the wall or bottom of the pool at any time during your swim unless your lido is 50 metres or more in length.
Some lidos are partially heated i.e. the heating is on some of the time.
In this case the temperature when you swim must be no higher than the maximum UK temperature at the time ( email me for more clarification if required ).
Because lidos are fresh water they are usually colder than the sea so a little heating may NOT be enough to STOP Polar Bear or Penguin swimming but it will vary from pool to pool.
