IISA Aotearoa New Zealand Inc. is affiliated with IISA (the International Ice Swimming Association), which began in 2009 with a vision to make swimming in icy waters a new global sport. IISA now holds ice swims in 46 countries and has a Membership in 73 countries around the world.
We became an Incorporated Society (here in New Zealand) in July 2022, working with Ram Barkai, the Founder and President of IISA.
Ice Swimming in New Zealand – Beginnings
The first ‘Ice Mile’ (1.6km swam in water under 5 °C without a wetsuit) achieved in New Zealand was accomplished in May 2017 by Jaimie Monahan (from the USA), swimming in the Tasman Glacier Lake beneath Mt Cook. The alpine lake temperature was 2.37°C! This swim qualified for the Oceania locality as part of the ‘Ice Sevens Challenge’ that Jaimie went on to complete.
The other early Ice Mile swims completed in New Zealand were accomplished by;
Simon Olliver (Christchurch, NZ) at Lake Lyndon in August 2020 and again in early July 2021.
Susan Sherwen, Jono Ridler, Duncan Kukard, Caitlin O’Reilly, Rebecca Hollingsworth and Breanna Ward all later in July 2021 at Lake Lyndon.*
However, Ice Miles achieved overseas by Kiwis go back to 2013;
Charlotte Brynn in 2013 and 2014 in Lake Champlain, Vermont, USA.
Tracy Clark in 2015 in the Netherlands.
David Coleman in 2017 and 2018 in the UK.
*These Swimmers were part of a Group of twelve open water and ultramarathon swimmers from across New Zealand who gathered together at Lake Lyndon (staying in nearby Springfield) to attempt three ice swims over three days: a 500m, 1km swim and an Ice Mile under IISA Event rules.
Other successful ice swims achieved at this event were;
Mike Cochrane, Nev Fisher and Camille Gulick completed both the 500m and 1km events.
Sylvia Wanstall, Sarah O’Dwyer and Rebecca Bowden completed 500m swims.
Di Rankin, Leigh Sherwen, Simon Freeman, Jim West and Roger Soulsby made up the required medical and support/observer crew.
Formation of IISA Aotearoa New Zealand – Event Hosting
Following our Incorporation in July 2022 with our own constitution and affiliation with IISA in place, we began hosting IISA-sanctioned events. Protocols covering medicals, event medics, observers, marshals and timekeepers are adhered to, providing safety as well as accurate data recording to achieve swim ratifications. Our events alternate between pool and open water swimming events.
The IISA NZ National Pool Championships are held in the Alexandra Outdoor Pool (surveyed at 25m length). In 2024, water temperature averaged around 2 degrees Celsius due to frosts and fog. The results from this certified pool are used to select our IISA NZ national ice swimming team, the Frozen Ferns. Team Members must meet IISA qualifying times to be able to compete at the bi-annual IISA Ice Swimming World Championships.
The IISA NZ Open Water Nationals are typically held in the Blue Lake, St Bathans in Central Otago. A man-made lake from gold mining days, where the water dips below 5°C in winter, allowing swimmers to complete their qualifying swims before attempting the bone-chilling ice mile (1.6km).
Frozen Ferns – IISA World Championships
In January 2023, our team of eight swimmers attended their first World Champs at the IISA 5th World Championships in Samoens, French Alps. We won 10 Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze, coming 7th in the country gold medal count, out of 460 swimmers from 43 countries. Individually, 6 Age Group World Records were also broken. Our NZ resident swimmer representing Mexico earned a Bronze medal.
In January 2025, our seventeen-strong team attended the IISA 6th World Championships in Molveno, Italy, coming 4th out of 48 countries after France, Germany and the USA, which had up to 50 members per Team. 752 swimmers competed in the 50m pool with the temperature on the first day hovering around 2°C! Our Frozen Ferns achieved 4 Golds, 4 Silvers and 3 Bronze Medals = 11 all up in the overall open results. Furthermore, in the age group categories, we won 21 Golds, 11 Silvers and 10 Bronze Medals. A stunning performance by a Team that had to travel further than most to even attend!
