“These are just some of our hearty, battle-hardened, Low Society Hookers, Skimmers, Escorts, Pimps, Cutters, Jumpers, Strippers, Timers, Go Go Girls, Gunners and Pole Dancers, braving 10°F and 20 mph winds for hours to make a 25m pool happen in the middle of Lake Memphremagog in March,” explains visionary race director Phil White. “They get s**t done.”
Volunteers [shown above] at the 2025 Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival include from left to right: unidentified individual, Joey Pavey, Cecile Berne, Jerry Bond, Rob Andersen (with the hook), Gordon Lang, Greg O’Connor, Chuck Goulding, Daniela Klaz, Elaine Kornbau Howley, Teresa Gerarde, Pat Goulding, Denis Chenette, Don Houghton, Jr., Lara Hendricks, Andrew Wallace, John Gale, Robert Bailey, and Brenda Perks. Photos courtesy of Robbie Bailey.
This year, the lake water was -0.83°C water at the annual Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival. The air dropped down to -15°C on Day One, but rose to -3.8°C on Day Two with large snowflakes falling on Day Three.
It was not an easy job to build or maintain the venue.
Double-winner Ildiko Szekely later said about her first-time ice swimming competition. “The ice races were super fun. I didn’t know what to expect, so I only signed up for the sprint events. I really had a great time. It didn’t take me much to get warm at all; not like after a 3-minute ocean dip in the water. I had an hour between the 25m and 50m freestyle races and I was completely fine. I just took off my suit and put on warm clothes. I didn’t get the shakes at all.”
White cannot stop emphasizing the passion shown by the community and the volunteers, “There is no group more loving, hardworking, and just plain tough, than our corps of hearty, battle hardened Volunteers. Some 30 strong this year. Escorts walked swimmers to and from the pool. Strippers helped swimmers on and off with their clothing. Hookers walked the pool with Pool Hooks at the ready to pull a swimmer. Pimps held the Hooker by a rope in case they need a pull themselves. Pole Dancers helped place the flag poles the day before the festival. Others included the Gunners, Timers, Go-Go Girls, Skimmers, and Huggers.
The Bob Kraft Happy Hooker Award went to 85-year-old Walter Peck for his years of work as an Escort. He received a walking stick, hand carved by our beloved local elf, Bill Peck.”
Photos courtesy of Robbie Bailey, Robert Bailey, Nick Pavey, Kathleene Marcil, and Phil White.
© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“
A World Open Water Swimming Federation project.