In Les Sables d'Olonne in Vendée, residents met for the traditional first bath of the year. A festive, icy and disguised swim.
The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection
Every day, our editorial team reserves the best regional news for you. A selection just for you, to stay in touch with your regions.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the newsletter “The essentials of the day: our exclusive selection”. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
There were more than a thousand of them on the beach of the Sables d'Olonne embankment. Locals and tourists alike met after this New Year's Eve night to take the first bath of the year.
After a warm-up with music and the kick-off from the city's mayor Yannick Moreau, the swimmers were able to jump into 12 degree water. An important moment for these swimming enthusiasts, who sometimes have traveled a long way to come and witness this ritual. ” I stayed in the water for about 10 minutes, says this Sablais. It's excellent, it's good for your health and morale “.
If for some, it's a habit, for others, it's a discovery. “This is the first time I've done it, explains this man, a Santa hat on his head. The water is a little cold, but it's invigorating. The atmosphere is nice“.
At the first swim of the year in Les Sables d'Olonne, the participants came with their most beautiful sailor top.
•
© Juliette Poirier
Organized by the town hall of Les Sables d'Olonne, the first bath of the year aimed to break a world record: that of the greatest number of sailors gathered in one place. It is the small town of Saint-Didier-sur-Chalaronne, in Ain, which has held this record since last July with 2,101 striped tops. And the Vendéens did not manage to dethrone it this year.
No matter, the participants played the game and took to the water, under the watchful eye of SNSM supervisors, who ensured that there were no accidents.
Once out of the water, the bathers, shivering, enjoy the experience. ” From the moment you no longer feel your legs, that's when you have to get out, jokes one of them. But it feels good afterwards “.
As a reward, the participants were entitled, after the bath, to a well-deserved hot chocolate.
Find us on our social networks and on france.tv
