Are you a winter swimmer… or just winter swimming curious?

Fancy a challenge that’ll keep you motivated all winter? Polar Bear and Penguin Challenge founder Pauline Barker MBE is celebrating a special milestone this year and you could be a part of it…

Whether you’re already a fully certified cold-water addict or still trying to work out why anyone voluntarily swims when the ducks look concerned, the Polar Bear & Penguin Challenge is for you.

Swim on your own with the support of our amazing online community, or rope in a few friends and discover that the best things in life can be just friendship, camaraderie and a sense of adventure.

Swim twice a month from November to March and choose your level:

Classic – Just get in. No distance. No excuses.

Silver – 500 metres a month (two 250m swims).

Gold – 1,000 metres a month.

(Ant)arctic – 3,000 metres a month.

Jedi & Ninja – For those who hear “that’s impossible” and think “challenge accepted.”

Whether you’re dipping for 30 seconds or happily swimming through icy water for miles, there’s a challenge with your name on it.

This year is special…It’s our 10th anniversary and over the last decade, thousands of swimmers from around the world have joined in.

Friendships have been made, confidence has grown, and people who once thought 12°C was ridiculous now argue over whether 5°C is actually “quite pleasant.”

Polar Bear or Penguin? People ask this all the time…

Polar Bear – Standard swimsuit and hat. That’s it. No wetsuit. No gloves. No booties. Just you and the water.

Penguin – Love your neoprene? Perfect. Welcome aboard.

Extreme Penguin – Just a standard swimsuit but add gloves, boots and an extra hat maybe? 

Whichever challenge you choose, you’ll fit right in.

Why do people keep coming back?

• Because winter swimming isn’t just about cold water.
• It’s about watching the sunrise with friends.
• It’s about laughing at yourself.
• It’s about cake tasting infinitely better after a swim.
• It’s about finding your tribe.
• And somewhere along the way, you’ll probably surprise yourself.

Finish in March and you’ll earn…

• A unique finisher’s medal
• A commemorative sew-on badge
• A personalised certificate
• Bragging rights for at least the next twelve months.

(You’ll also discover that talking about water temperatures becomes a perfectly normal conversation.)

Entry costs just £15.

Five months of motivation, encouragement, adventures, laughs, chilly swims and a community that genuinely cheers each other on.

Ready to join in? Come and celebrate our 10th winter with thousands of swimmers who know that summer is nice…

…but winter is where the real stories begin.

Enter here: polarbearchallenges.com

What previous challengers say…

The best, most life-changing challenge I have ever taken part in.— Lisa

There is a reason that a group of Polar Bears is called a celebration! We celebrate life, friendship, cake, temperatures, and adventure. — Debra

The best challenge I have ever done! Brilliant motivation to swim through the winter. — Catherine

Ten years on, the water’s still cold… and the bragging rights are still priceless. — Pete

The Polar Bear Challenge changed my life, my mindset and gave me back my sanity… although my non-cold-water friends now think I’m mad! — Barbara