More than 200 people braved snow and ice to jump in the Fraser River Sunday at noon in Fort Langley, the best turnout for the Polar Bear Swim yet.
In the minutes leading up to the mass dunking, swim founder Darian Kovacs and a helper were using shovels to break up the ice along the shoreline.
It was the coldest conditions in the brief history of the event, he said.
"We've never had snow (before)" Kovacs said.
"It's a true Polar Bear swim."
Kovacs and a few friends staged an unofficial swim on the Brae Island Park beach that faces Fort Langley four years ago and the event has been growing every year since.
There were more onlookers than participants for the 2017 edition, with about 250 staying dry while they watched the action from land.
"Not even on a bet," one said when asked if they were taking part.
