THE inaugural Solstice by the Sea will culminate in a mass winter dip at Bathers Beach this morning (Saturday June 20).
The bracing paddle is organised by Cold Nips, a WA charity that holds weekly swims to improve physical and mental health.
It started out with best mates Jian Wong Yen and Ryan Linton going for refreshing dips at Port Beach in 2019, and went on to become a registered charity with up to 800 people going for weekly swims.
“Ryan turned to me when we were having a dip one morning and he was like ‘This feels amazing’,” says Yen, who lives in East Freo.
“‘Why don’t we try and share it with other people?’”
• People having fun at a Cold Nips swim (above) and a fire dancer warms up for Solstice by the Sea (below).
The simple concept—meet at the beach for a swim and a coffee afterwards—took off and before long hundreds of people were charging into the ocean together.
“In the summer we meet every Wednesday at different beaches from Coogee up to Mullaloo,” Yen says.
“The biggest turnout we had was 800 folk at Scarborough Beach.
“In the winter, it’s more the hardcore group, but we still get about 50 to 100 people at Leighton Beach every week.”
Cold Nips also holds weekly dips in Busselton and Geraldton, as well as Mandurah and Margaret River during the summer.
For a few years it was hosting events on the Gold Coast and in Sydney.
“Everybody just runs into the water, stays as long or short as they want and then jumps out and gets a coffee,” Yen says.
“Over the years, the most rewarding aspect has been seeing friendships and relationships develop.
“There’s been weddings, there’s been couples that have had families since meeting at Cold Nips, and just seeing that ripple effect, that’s beyond just the actual experience, has been super motivating.”
The Cold Nips event on Saturday is part of Solstice by the Sea, a week-long celebration of winter, fire, food and connection on the shores of Bathers Beach.
Building towards the Winter Solstice on Sunday, the weekend’s festivities include fire dancers at sunset, face painting from Pickled Fairy, storytelling, kids’ arts and crafts, DJs and lots of yummy winter food.
Before the Cold Nips 10am swim there will be free yoga on the boardwalk, and soup and hot chocolate afterwards.
Bathers Beach House owner Brenden Jones says they wanted to create a festival that encouraged people to get outside, embrace the season and come together by the ocean.
“The Winter Solstice has always been a time centred around gathering, renewal and connection, so it felt like the perfect inspiration for an event that celebrates everything we love about our community,” he says.
“So many great cities celebrate winter well, so why can’t we?”
Jones says he hopes to make the festival an annual winter tradition.
“I look forward to seeing everyone tackle the winter swim with Cold Nips on Saturday.”
For more details on Cold Nips see coldnips.com.au and for Solstice by the Sea event times see bathersbeachhouse.com/solstice-by-the-sea.
by STEPHEN POLLOCK