Ideas / Strange one-offs / Finland
The ice hole
Sauna, the hole in the ice, sauna again. The cheapest idea here, and the one nobody forgets.
How it runs
- Warm-upA long round in the sauna.
- The dipA few seconds in the ice hole, with a ladder and someone watching.
- AgainBack to the sauna.
- RepeatAs many rounds as you like. One is enough to count.
What to know
- Dips last seconds, not minutes.
- Every dip is supervised.
- Anyone with a heart condition should check with their doctor first.
Good for
Any group visiting Finland in winter.
Not for
Anyone who'd rather watch. Watching is allowed, though.
Questions planners ask
Is ice swimming dangerous?
Short, supervised dips at an established winter-swimming spot are a normal Finnish habit. Anyone with a heart condition should check with a doctor first.
Do we have to go in?
No. Watching is allowed, and most watchers end up going in.
Where can we do it in Helsinki?
At several public winter-swimming spots along the shore. We book sauna time for the group.
Thinking of doing this?
Borrow the idea, it's yours. If you'd like a hand, or just a second opinion on whether it suits your group, write to me. I produce ideas like this one at Sorry, No Polar Bears, a Helsinki studio I co-run.
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