IISA Aotearoa New Zealand

Welcome to International Ice Swimming Association – Aotearoa New Zealand.

2024 IISA New Zealand & Southern hemisphere Ice Swimming Pool Championships – Entries now open HERE

What is Ice Swimming?

Ice Swimming is swimming in water at a temperature of 5.0C / 41.0F (or less) unassisted, with a silicon cap, pair of goggles and standard swimming costume. IISA has established a comprehensive set of safety and swimming rules together with worldwide swim records. IISA has members in 73 countries and Ice Swimmers [1km+] in 43 countries

Wrap up of the IISA Aotearoa NZ Open Water Ice Swimming Championships

St Bathans, Central Otago,

7th -10th July 2023

The IISA Aotearoa NZ Open Water Ice Swimming Champs held in the Blue lake at St Bathans, Central Otago were held from Fri 7th July thru to Mon 10th July 2023. After drawing breath, we can look back at the phenomenal achievements of the participating ‘Ice Athletes’. Firstly, we were fortunate to have stunning calm, sunny days with light frosts keeping the lake nicely below the required 5 degrees. In fact on the 1st morning it was a very cool average of 3 degrees !! The mirror like surface really assisted swimmers to perform at their best. Some of the competitors had a season or two under their belt while some were competing in their very first ice swimming event. All can be proud to have achieved swims of varying distances in water temperatures that are breathtaking to say the least !! The sheer mental and physical strength plus lots of determination to complete their races, whether it be 250m, 500m, 1km, the Ice Mile or for one of our swimmers, the extreme 2km swim is quite awe-inspiring.

Like all extreme sports, Ice Swimming brings many challenges and risks. Safety on the water as well as swimmers’ monitored ‘recovery’ is paramount. We were extremely fortunate to have a professional medical team that comprised of two paramedics, an ED nurse and two Doctors. On water support consisted of two IRB’s with Skippers (either Surf Lifeguards or experienced in escorting extreme distance swimmers) and medics all linked by VHF radio to onshore Marshalls & the Medics in recovery tent.

Over the course of the four days, 39 swimmers from Northland to Canterbury/Otago/Southland swam over 60km in temperatures ranging from 2.3 to 4.8 degrees.

We had 27 swimmers compete in the 250 meter swim, 25 swimmers in the 500 meter, 21 swimmers in the 1km and 11 swimmers are now Ice Mile champions.

An extraordinary 2km swim (known as an Extreme Ice Mile) was completed in 40mins 52secs by our very own Susan Sherwen – Organiser extraordinaire, Event Director and a member of the International Ice Swimming Association (IISA) Education & Swimming Committees.

Results, still to be ratified are as follows;

Ice Mile

1^st – Rachel Armstrong 27.23

2^nd – Corriner Conner 27.40

3^rd – Omar Vaquero 28.39

1000m

1^st – Emilia Finer 14:31

2^nd – Jackson Arlidge 15:07

3^rd Corrina Connor 16:03

500m

1^st – Emilia Finer 6:55

2^nd – Jackson Arlidge 7:04

3^rd – Quinn Boyle 7:24

250m

1^st – Emilia Finer 3:24

2^nd – Jackson Arlidge 3:28

3^rd – Quinn Boyle 3:30

IISA Aotearoa NZ hosted the NZ Openwater Ice Championships at St Bathans 7th to the 10th July 2023

The Blue Lake, St Bathans, Otago was chosen as the 2023 Ice Championship venue for many reasons, it ticked all the boxes to comply with ice swimming regulations and with its majestic position the temperatures were sure to drop nicely, to allow all swimmers to complete their events over the four days.

The temperatures were perfect for the IISA Aotearoa NZ Openwater Ice Championships with the water temperature sitting well below the maximum 5 degrees needed to comply with ice swimming regulations and with the forecasted sun shining on the swimmers backs while they took to the “ice” it was an exciting few days.

39 entrants swam distances ranging from 250 meters to the crème de la crème The Ice Mile felt all the nerves and excitement as they ready themselves for the Ice Champs. It was an epic adventure at St Bathans!

A huge THANK YOU to our volunteers and sponsors for their time and donations to this event, without you it would not be possible!