Tassie Tough: Shorts-wearing locals take it in their stride

Every Tasmanian knows one: the bloke who sticks to wearing shorts through the middle of the harshest winter. 20+ OF THE TOUGHEST TASSIE RESIDENTS >>

Cassie Webb says even in Antarctica, Leigh Webb wears shorts.

EVERY Tasmanian knows one: the bloke who sticks to wearing shorts through the middle of the harshest winter.

The Mercury put out a call to find photos that epitomise #tassietough and had more than a thousand comments.

There were blokes wearing shorts in the snow, to formal occasions and even in the icy wastes of Antarctica.

It’s a cultural tradition, a point of pride that Tasmanian knees can weather the coldest conditions.

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Cody McCracken was dobbed in by his mum, who sent in a photo of him working as a guide on the Overland Track, standing in the snow at the back of Cradle Mountain.

“It’s an unwritten law among guides – you have to wear your shorts until the bitter end,” he said.

Cody McCracken hiking in the snow — in shorts.

“We had three guides on that trip, all of us were wearing shorts. Unless you’ve got a nigh-on blizzard, most guides will stick it out with shorts.

“The thought is that if you keep your core warm the rest will be OK.

“From the guest’s perspective, you have to look a little bit hard.”

But Mr McCracken is no conscientious objector to long pants, he says he’s mellowing as time goes by.

“I think with age I’m coming around. It still takes a bit for me to get the long pants out, but previously I wouldn’t be seen in them.”

Tim Noyes says he doesn’t feel the cold.

His partner sent in a photo of him in shorts, a T-shirt and thongs on top of Mt Wellington last week.

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“Pretty much everyone in my family is the same as well. I like to joke I’ve got a bit of Eskimo in me.

“As early as I can remember I had been running around in shorts.

“When I was working out at the airport I was working for a car rental company and I got around in shorts – I was known for it.”

At least Tim admits to owning long pants.

“I wear them, but not very often.”

Matty Moir is another proud Tasmanian who has sported shorts not only in a Tasmanian winter, but also in Japan and North America.

“You get a few looks. It’s always been how I’ve operated. Shorts are easy, comfortable, growing up in Tasmania you adapt to the environment a lot more quickly.

“I think when you’ve gone through it for a long time you tend to adapt to it. It’s something you notice on the cold days, but you just deal with it.

“I’m in a looks over comfort situation a lot of the time. It’s definitely a lot easier.

“Shorts are a lot less constricting, a lot of that comes into play.”

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