The poetry of a mid-winter swim day

July 4th, 2011
[Story and photos by Shirley Frater]

The sky was blue, the grass white with frost. The sun making tapering shadows as the fingers of rays shine through the shelters belts scaring Jack Frost away till another night.

The 3rd of July Riwaka Schools Mid winter festival at Kaiteriteri beach. A hurried breakfast and we are joining the streams of cars heading for the beach.

Hundreds of people wrapped in coats and scarves merging on to the beach. Some people dressed in unusual clothing or carrying hand luggage queuing outside a tent, giggling, laughing or haw haws from friends, "Are you doing this mate?" while wife pulls her coat closer and looks the other way.

Kids jumping up and down with excitement. The grandmas and granddads thinking "I may have done these things years ago but not today".

The beach is pristine, the water an amazing blue green with hardly a ripple, not a cloud in the sky to be seen. A couple of large Waka amas, kayakers, and paddle boarders move in closer to see the fun.

The loudspeaker blasts out that the judging of costumes in under way and soon there will be a race to the water. Many people line up with cameras for the best shots of family and friends getting ready to take the plunge into the full tide. Wet suits, hire costumes that people would never usually be seen in, bodies wrapped in frost cloth looking like ice blocks, thermal underwear with last year's under-sized bikinis over the top, tropical island costumes - in fact anything for a laugh to raise awareness for the mid winter swim.

A group of rugby club kids are nervous and wrestle and tackle each other on the beach to fill in time. The crowd is buzzing anticipating screams and yells. They were not disappointed as the countdown began.

There is a real rush for the water, some falling in, some almost walking on water and then hardly wet back to shore for the welcome towel, composure gone and not a smile on the face - "where are the hot showers?" This might be their last year of doing this. Others splash, are laughing, friends holding hands and jumping.

A hardy couple swims out and wave hands in the air. Making the most of the occasion. Maybe they are English and think it's the summer swim at Blackpool. [They actually stay in for at least 10 minutes.] The audience gives everyone a cheer for the occasion. Bodies shake and shiver and it's all over for another year.

It's much quieter and people wander, attracted to the aroma of Resurgence Coffee or to look at Zumba, Ukes of Hazard with their music, the burgers, pumpkin soup and chips are cooking, kids jumping in the happy castle or having their faces painted, people waiting for the duck race and hopefully a prize.

The crowd enjoying a warm sunny Sunday morning meeting friends they have not seen for some time. The old saying "as the days lengthen the cold strengthens" could be right. But who cares, it's a Mot sunny winter day.

Kaiteriteri with its calm waters, golden sand make the venue for a great winter community event. Riwaka Schools makes some much needed funds as well.

The ice block girls	Waiting ....
Wrestle on the beach	Rush to the water
It's cold for some	The dancing couple
Girls stay in close	Where do we go girls?

Comment by Coralie Smith:
[Posted 9 July 2011]

Great story Shirley and the photos too. I liked where they had the swim this year. Further along the beach must have made for better photo opportunities and not so crushed together. First year we haven't been ... to watch only of course, never to go in.

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