Unknown woman in Santa hat takes icy sea swim in Vladivostok

A woman in a swimsuit and a Santa Claus hat was spotted in the icy sea in Sobol Bay. She walked into the frigid water up to her knees with a smile and then dunked herself. The footage was shared by the Telegram channel Svodka 25.

Opinions were divided in the comments. Some admired the heroine«s hardiness and willpower, while others didn»t understand the motivation and warned about health, saying such swims «are not the best for it.» Some people recalled the story of Anastasia Slobodchikova, who also practiced winter swimming for many years, but in 2023 she was diagnosed with cancer and had to say goodbye to the winter sea. Anastasia«s story can be read in the special section materials.

Some even managed to condemn the woman, saying she was setting a bad example for teenagers who «without trying to understand, will run to make reels, and that will be dangerous.» The water is currently around 2°C (36°F), and there are also strong currents from the shore in many bays; to go into the icy water, one must be prepared, experienced, and assess the risks.

There are many people who swim during the cold season and even in winter in Primorye. Some combine it with visits to the banya (steam bath), others have been hardening themselves since childhood or for many years as adults. There are even groups dedicated to winter swimming.

But there are also those who simply love to swim and aren«t afraid of cold water. For example, a blogger named Mikhail, also known as Boroda (The Beard), swims in winter and summer, saying he does it for the soul. Even in the December frosts he entered the water as if it were the height of July.