Armand Biermand, South Africa and Västra Åliden.
The inauguration tempted ice bathers with different backgrounds. Among the around 35 brave premiere participants there were people from South Africa, Singapore and the UK.
– It was incredibly cool to see those who had never been down in ice-cold water before take a dip, says Thomas Lindgren, project manager of the winter swim 2025.
Mattias Sjöstedt is the man behind the inauguration of the ice bath. He has previously conducted ice bathing in Örviken but has now, as a result of the ice bathing moving to Kurjoviken, joined forces with other local companies to offer a full experience.
– I have been running the ice bath events in Örviken for quite a few years but now Kurjoviken came up with the idea to bring all the activities together in order to offer larger parties this event with bathing, brewery and distillery and things like that, he says.
Per Amlie, Singapore and Mattias Sjöstedt.
Milton Amlie, Singapore.
Justin Jakes, UK but currently Skellefteå.
Kurjoviken on Ice is part of a larger drive to do ice baths in Kurjoviken. The ice bath was held here for the first time last year, as opposed to the city centre where it has been held earlier.
– Last year we had quite a short time to get everything together for the ice bath season but it was still popular. This time we have significantly longer to plan so now it will be even better, says Lindgren.
Thomas Lindgren.
Last year mote than 2,500 people visited the event. Ahead of this year Lindgren says that they hope to have even more visitors and that they have prepared to be able to have a sustainable event.
– We have talked with Skellefteå buss which will put in extra buses down to Kurjoviken during the competition weekend and we have chartered buses via another company in order to transport the competitors, he says.
Armand Biermand, South Africa and Västra Åliden.
Bastian Amlie, Singapore.
It is thereby the first hole in the ice that has been opened up and inaugurated in Kurjoviken, an ice bath that Sjöstedt organises activities around.
– The inauguration went well, it was fun. A great deal of people came, he says.
Later on more holes will be made in the ice.
– When it becomes time for the winter swimming in February we usually cut out a 25 metre winter swimming course. It will be used for the competition and everyone from professional swimmers to leisure swimmers will be using it, says Lindgren.