Coogee ice bath enthusiasts embrace first day of winter

While most Sydneysiders rugged up for the predicted coldest day of the year on Wednesday, a hearty band of ice bath fans took the plunge on Coogee Beach.

While most Sydneysiders rugged up for the predicted coldest day of the year on Wednesday, a hearty band of ice bath fans took the plunge on Coogee Beach.

Breathless Coogee Beach program founder Andre Garraud admitted it was freezing as he prepared to plunge into the ice on Wednesday morning.

“It’s always tough (but this morning) I was shaking before we got in the water.”

Coogee’s ice bathing community battle the conditions every Wednesday but find it extra challenging when the first day of winter throws a polar blast of icy air at them.

“I’ve been running it since the beginning of February, rain or shine every Wednesday at 6am,” Mr Garraud said.

The first day of winter was a chilly nine degrees at Coogee on Wednesday, 2022. Brave participants sit in a bucket of Ice on Coogee beach. Picture: John Grainger

Having experience in pilates and breathing instructing, Mr Garraud vowed to start the program after experiencing personal battles with chronic breathing.

“I’ll guide people for 20-30 minutes through breathwork, then after that we get into the ice,” he said.

A man sits on Coogee Beach at 6am in a bucket of ice as part of a breathing program to help with cardiovascular health. Picture: John Grainger

“I used to over-breathe a lot, I was stressed out and wasn’t sleeping well.

“But basic breathing exercises were recommended and actually helped by decreasing how much I breathe.”

Breathless Coogee Beach has come a long way since its start earlier this year.

Andre urges anyone interested to get involved in the growing movement.

Coogee Beach was a chilly nine degrees on Wednesday morning. Picture: John Grainger

Brave participants as part of a breathing program get into the ice bucket fo rthe first ime on the coldest day of the year on Wednesday morning. Picture: John Grainger

“Anyone’s welcome to come down to Coogee Beach, it’s all about community and we just love people showing up.”

Breathwork and cold therapy can help improve cardiovascular health, metabolic and immune system function, stress levels, cognition, sleep and decrease blood pressure.

First day of winter at Hotham Alpine Resort. Picture: Dylan Robinson

On Monday a vigorous cold front swept across NSW bringing heavy rain and damaging winds. Picture: NSW RFS

Coogee’s icy therapy comes as a brave and unusual mainstay amid a wave of erratic weather in Australia over this past year.

This includes floods in the Northern Rivers, heavy rain and flash flooding in Camden and Hornsby Shire, a month of rain across Sydney in April, blankets of early snow in Perisher and Thredbo this month, and wild winds leaving thousands power-less in Sydney this week.

Even Sydney’s favourite activities post-lockdown have been affected, with Vivid light shows partially deactivated, due to strong winds.