Boxing Day Dip 2009 - Seaburn, Sunderland, UK

This video is dedicated to all the hardy souls who took part this year, and braved the freezing conditions to raise money for charity.

The Boxing Day Dip at Seaburn is organised every year by the Sunderland Lion Club, and raises around £65,000 each year for charities. It's a great event to watch and blow away those "Christmas Cobwebs" in the bracing North Sea winds.

This year it was a beautiful morning for the event, with the air temperature just on freezing point when I got there around 10:00. I was well prepared, sporting a good thick pair of 'wellies' and hiking socks, my sea fishing salopettes, and a thick hooded sweatshirt. I shot today with the trusty Canon XL-2 with the 20X XL 5.4-108mm LIS lens. I was set!

From 10:00 until the start of the event at 11:00 I shot some background footage of the beach, the RNLI lifeboats, a canoeist, the local dog walkers, and the organisers making the final preparations. The fire brigade were setting up the hoses to soak the 'dippers' before they get to the freezing water of the North Sea. I think they do it to 'acclimatise' them a little before the shock of the freezing water......I think it's just an excuse to soak people with cold water!

Right on time, the dippers were led along the promenade to the beach steps by the Mayor, who 'bottled it' and didn't head down to the water........The rest ran, jumped, and skipped into the freezing waters, all dressed in an excellent assortment of 'fancy dress'. Some ran in and straight out, others braved the water until they turned a light shade of blue!

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves with big smiles, and cheering, all watched by a large crowd that had gathered on the grass banks and the beach.

Looks like the event was a great success and we'll see how much was finally raised for charity.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Vizvox
• Productions
• Boxing
• Day
• Dip
• Sunderland
• Seaburn
• Whitburn

[misguidedgrace]

oh god i did that

i dunno what i was thinking like

tommy and jeans (nana + grandads) golden wedding dip went great :')

[Vizvox]

Thanks for the comment, well done for being there on the day!

[hotshotssr1]

LOL nice one mate, looks like it was packed out this year.

[Vizvox]

@hotshotssr1 It sure was matey, a good crowd and a nice day for it.

[vamosherbut]

This song is nice whot is this??? thanks

[Vizvox]

@XRATEDUK2006 Thanks for the comment.

[XRATEDUK2006]

@Vizvox Great vid Rich

[Vizvox]

Anyone wishing to link the video to Facebook, Bebo, etc, please feel free to do so.

[Vizvox]

@karistargel - Thanks for the comment. It was a great fun event, and all in a good cause. Well done to you and the rest of your group for being the first into the water and braving the cold.

[karistargel]

Thanks for posting this. I'm the one screaming really loudly dressed as an ice cream!!! we were 1st in the water!