Back in her homeland, Finland, avantouinti, or ice swimming, is popular - Sari Oswald's brother might cut a hole in the ice of a frozen lake and dive right into the water.
But that did not make entering Oamaru Harbour easy yesterday at the 19th annual Port FM Mid Winter Swim, she said.
''It's like climbing a mountain,'' Mrs Oswald said. ''When you're at the top there, it's a wonderful feeling. It's the same thing here once you get out ... it's fantastic.''
The carnival-like atmosphere with costumes and a crowd brought her back to Oamaru for her second straight mid-winter swim.
With her partner Rito Oswald, she swam in Timaru last weekend.
The couple was still considering whether to head to ''freaking freezing'' Lake Tekapo next week.
Yesterday in Oamaru it was 12degC, sunny, with just a light southwesterly.
About 50 swimmers came out to be energised by the cold water.
Port FM raised $700 for the Oamaru Rowing Club with proceeds from a sausage sizzle and a gold coin collection to add to it.
