Before he heads off to Molveno, Italy for the International Ice Swimming Association 6th World Championship in January 2025, Ram Barkai (@rambarkai_iceswimmer) is leading a group of adventurous ice swimming friends on his fifth visit to Antarctica.
Between November 12th and 14th on the Antarctica Peninsula (65.00° S 18.00° E), with Dr. Ruth Williamson as the IISA Medical Officer, there will be two events swum: 500m and an Ice Kilometer. The group includes:
Antarctica Ice Swimming Adventure Members
- Sam Whelpton, South Africa (@samwhelpton)
- Neil Hopkins, South Africa (@neil0212)
- Ram Barkai, South Africa (@rambarkai_iceswimmer)
- Martha Wood, USA (@mox_in_sox_2)
- Wei-Ping Chew, Malaysia (@weipingchew89)
- Bulcsú Lengyel, Hungary
- Adam Baker, UK
- Charlie Fluery, UK
- Kate Steels, UK (@waterbabykate)
- Rory Fitzgerald, UK (@fitzgerald.rory)
- Dr Ruth Williamson, UK
- Anel Stydekova, Kazakhstan
- Lynton Mortensen, Australia (@lyntonmortensen)
- Maxime Valabregue, France (@maximevalabregue)
En route to Antarctica through the Drake Passage, Barkai reported, “It’s getting real. We just spotted our first penguin. The Drake Passage is being very kind to us. We are discussing swim logistics and safety, heats and seconds. The ship is being amazing and very interested. Ice swimming is growing in interest around the world; we have 13 swimmers and our doctor. We have no extra support so we will have to rely on the ship expedition guides. All swimmers and our doctor are planning to do the 250m test swim.
All aside from Dr. Williamson will do a 1 km Ice Kilometer, and possibly couple of Ice Miles. The expected water temp…0°C would be nice, but possibly lower.”
In the meantime, the global ice swimming community in warmer environments will be focused on the following IISA events prior to the 2025 World Championship:
- Silbersee-Ice-Cup 2024 in Silbersee Langenhagen, Germany on November 30th
- 1st Hungarian Ice Swimming National Championships in Lupa tó on December 1st
- French National Championships in Palais des Sports de Megève on December 13th
- IISA GB Championships in Rother Valley Country, England on December 14th
- Amsterdam Ice Swim in Jeugdland, Amsterdam on December 14th
- vEItSbad Cup 2025 in Veitsbronn, Germany on January 4th 2025
- Danish National Championships in Faaborg, Denmark on January 24th – 26th 2025
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