'Mad buggers': Ice Swimming Champs start in 5 degree lake
Ice swimming is swimming in water temperatures below 5 degrees - unassisted with a silicone cap, pair of goggles, and standard swimming suit.
Competitors in the one mile swim are in the water now.
Kathryn speaks with Event Director Sue Sherwen from St Bathans.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
'Hopefully we can lend a hand' - more Kiwi fire-fighters head to Canada
Fires in Manitoba earlier this year. Photo: Manitoba government / AFP New Zealand is sending more fire-fighters to Canada to help with out-of-control wildfires. A contingent of 43 people was set to fly from Auckland to Vancouver and then Winnipeg in the Manitoba province, in addition to [ seven fire specialists who arrived in Canada this week] There were 105 active wildfires in Manitoba as of Sunday NZ time. Fire and Emergency NZ (FENZ) said 30 of their mostly volunteer fire-fighters were a part of the group heading over on Sunday night. Representatives from the Department of Conservation, forestry companies and the New Plymouth District Council would also join them in Canada for five weeks. FENZ Remutaka Station rural fire officer Ben Cousins said Manitoba was experiencing one of its worst fire seasons in years, with 1.2 million hectares burnt so far. He said FENZ crews were preparing for long days of tough, physical work, camping out in tents and working along the edge of fire-affected spots. "We're going to be in pretty remote areas, doing quite arduous fire fighting. "Where we're going looks to be quite swampy with a lot of tall timber, so we'll be doing a lot of mopping up, digging up hotspots, and working to contain parts of the wildfires." He did not expect fire services here to be put under strain as a result of the deployment. "We've got a spread of fire-fighters going [to Canada] from Northland right down to Southland. "As a percentage of our fire-fighters, it's a fairly small contingent we're taking over. "The real benefit for New Zealand is the experience our fire-fighters will bring back, getting to work on fires that are significantly more extreme than we generally get here but could potentially face in the future." FENZ community readiness and recovery advisor Steve Ochsner said as well as wildfires, they would need to carefully manage crew burnout. "We're working 14 days solid with three days off and then we'll work another 14 days before coming home, so we'll really have to watch our fatigue." FENZ National Trainer Emma Gibb said she was prepared for the challenge. "We're equipped with the training we need to be able to sustain that arduous work expected of us. "Hopefully we can lend a hand and provide a bit of reprieve for fire fighters over there that have been working long durations." While initially heading north of Winnipeg, the fire-fighters said they could move elsewhere during their deployment, with wildfires raging throughout Canada. As of Sunday NZ time, there were 518 wildfires across multiple provinces in the country, with roughly 145 of these considered out of control. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Dovedale residents cut off without water, power, after devastating floods
Dovedale flood damage, 13 July 2025. Photo: RNZ/Ellen O'Dwyer Dovedale residents remain isolated and without basic services more than two weeks after floods first tore through the rural Tasman valley, with roads and bridges destroyed, homes damaged, and vital infrastructure still out of action. Chunks of roads and bridges have been taken out by floodwaters in Dovedale, cutting off access for some, while sheds have been destroyed and paddocks have been inundated with thick silt. On Sunday, contractors were working to fill a large hole in Bests Bridge with mounds of dirt after it was damaged during the latest deluge. Photo: RNZ/Ellen O'Dwyer Vicky Thorn has been without water for 16 days because the pipe connecting her home to the council's water supply was damaged in the floods that struck the region in June. Her garage and front garden are full of mud, but she said it's impossible to clean up without water. Photo: RNZ/Ellen O'Dwyer Further up the valley, Dove River has eaten into Thorn Road, and shards of tarmac have broken off and are lying in the mud. It's too dangerous to drive on right now. Photo: RNZ/Ellen O'Dwyer Vanita Anderson, who lives in Dovedale near Eden Valley Road, said she is still without power and water. She said she cannot have showers or flush toilets. They have been collecting rainwater and boiling it. Photo: RNZ/Ellen O'Dwyer "It is really stressful and you feel exhausted all the time because you're on edge thinking, oh gosh, what's next." She said her neighbours have been affected, with some cut off by road. Dovedale flood damage. Photo: RNZ/Ellen O'Dwyer "It's the whole loss of power. Are you able to get in and out of the area? Seeing all the damage to the bridges, it really does stress you out," Anderson said. Some residents told RNZ Civil Defence had done some helicopter drop offs to Dovedale residents last night. John Drummond, another local, estimated about 100 properties were still without power. His land has been hit hard, with four major slips and a thick coating of gravel, silt and debris. Photo: RNZ/Ellen O'Dwyer "The clean-up - I was just talking to my son - is what scares me," he said. "That's going to be a real big job." Permanent boil water notices remain in place for Dovedale, Redwood Valley and 88 Valley, and a conserve water notice remains in force for the Dovedale community. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Netball: Northern Mystics set to host ANZ Premiership Grand Final
Prolific Mystics shooter Donnell Wallam scored 57 goals for the Auckland side. Photo: Joshua Devenie / Photosport Auckland's Northern Mystics have stormed into the ANZ Premiership Grand Final, outclassing the Tactix by 14 points in netball's top of the table clash. The 70-56 win on Sunday night secures the Auckland side hosting rights for the championship decider in a fortnight with the two-time defending champions advancing directly to the final. With both teams at full-strength, the Mystics showed their depth of quality with Australian shooter Donnell Wallam and rising young defender Catherine Hall in the game early. Despite the stinging loss, the Mainland Tactix remain in the hunt for the grand final and will now take on Wellington's Pulse in the elimination final next Sunday. After qualifying in second place, the Canterbury side will prepare to host the elimination final at Wolfbrook Arena. On Saturday the Pulse came through in a thriller with a last gasp win against the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. Pulse shooter Amorangi Malesala scored a two point shot on the buzzer to seal the incredible win for her side. Tomorrow night the Steel take on the Stars to sign off their contrasting seasons in the final round in Invercargill. Both sides are now out of contention for the finals.
