‘Addicted’: Nude Solstice Swimmer returns for eighth cold dash

‘Throw away your inhibitions’; Maria has eight Nude Solstice Swims under her belt and says she has no intention of not joining the ‘liberating’ icy cold event on Saturday.

Patsy Edwards, Ros Adams, Maria Clamp, Maria Knight are friends who are taking part in the Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim at Long Beach Sandy Bay. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The final event for Dark Mofo is a chilly way to kickstart the shortest day of the year, but long-time Nude Solstice Swim attendee Maria Knight loves it.

Ms Knight said eight years ago her son talked her into going to the Solstice Swim and since then she “hasn’t looked back.”

“It’s just very addictive,” she said.

“When you get there, the whole atmosphere is fabulous. You talk to so many different people while waiting. It’s so liberating and empowering.”

Ms Knight said she met a 92-year-old who did the swim.

“I thought, hey, there you go,” she said.

Ms Knight, 64, jokes she’s “no spring chicken”, but said once everyone is down to their birthday suits, no one seems to notice.

“All you’re thinking about is running into that cold water,” she said.

Patsy Edwards, Ros Adams, Maria Clamp, Maria Knight are friends who are taking part in the Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim at Long Beach Sandy Bay. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“You just throw away your inhibitions because you don’t need to worry about it because nobody else is.”

A keen swimmer, Ms Knight said she normally sticks to summer time.

“I live in Cremorne and there is a group of ocean dippers that go every morning, and I would love to do that,” she said.

Ms Knight is going with a group of friends this year, all return Nude Solstice Swimmers.

“I’ve had various people with me over the years, but they fall by the wayside and don’t get back into it,” she said.

“This year we have a little group together. It’s a bit of fun and a good laugh.”

A fan of Dark Mofo, Mr Knight said she was happy to see its return in 2025, going to Winter Feast and Dark Places, but the swim has a special spot for her.

“I will do this for as long as I can,” she said.

The Nude Solstice Swim kicks off at 7.42am Saturday at Long Beach.

Originally published as ‘Addicted’: Nude Solstice Swimmer returns for eighth cold dash