There’s not a lot of warm summertime in Denmark, “so if you want to enjoy the water you have to get used to the cold,” says photographer Daniel Hjorth as he explains his recent project documenting young Danish ice swimmers.
There is a team of children who all regularly get together and jump in frigid water…just because. Most hop in and hop out; others last up to 15 seconds. And then after their brief but brave swims, Hjorth describes…
…they would find their towels and get inside for a hot shower and maybe a cup of tea, but no hot chocolate – the teacher believed that the kids should learn that they didn’t need a reward for ice swimming, that the swimming was the reward itself.
On one visit, Hjorth set up a white background outside and took photos of the kids between getting out of the icy water and getting that warm shower. You get cold just looking at them…
“I don’t look forward to spring because then the ice swimmer season is over.”
– Lily Krambeck, 8
“People say that ice swimming gives you a better immune system.”
– Carl Aagesen, 12
“I look forward to getting my first ice swimmer diploma.”
– Viggo Prehn, 9
“My dad said that I will get a present if I finish the season.”
– Dicte Thomasen, 7
When I hit the water surface, it feels like my whole body pulls together.
– Jonathan Aagesen, 9
(via National Geographic)