On New Year’s Day 2009, I stroll along Vancouver’s Seawall towards English Beach to witness the annual Polar Bear swim with thousands of colourful Vancouver-ites gathering at English Bay, in costumes from clowns to bikinis, to start the New Year with a plunge into the frigid Pacific beginning with a a mass start from the snowy beach at 2:30pm on January 1st, 2009.

Once arrived to the festivities, i observe swimmers going in for a quick dip but also a few die-hards — including a Viking helmet clad yeoman — competing to be the heartiest participant.

Shot with a fish-eye style lens for a unique perceptive of the whole beach and ocean.