Brackish spectacle in Cumlosen: ice bathers enjoy cold fun!

Brackish spectacle in Cumlosen: ice bathers enjoy cold fun!

This week, frosty temperatures and an exciting event are drawing thousands to Cumlosen: The 25th brackish spectacle of the “Cumloser Brackratten” association shows that it doesn't always have to be warm to have fun. With an air temperature of just two degrees Celsius and water that had cooled to a pleasant eight degrees, over 50 brave ice bathers ventured into the cool waters of the brackish lake. This annual ice bathing fun attracted numerous spectators who, wrapped in warm fleece jackets and scarves, captured the colorful spectacle with their cell phones. The event reportedly began with a joyful five-minute polonaise around the lake, with participants dancing and jumping in bathrobes - a real eye-catcher for spectators!

For many of those present who didn't want to spend time in cold water, there was also a lot to experience. The offer included hot drinks such as mulled wine as well as hearty dishes such as bratwurst, cakes and tarts - everything your heart desires. A mobile wood stove was a great way to warm up after the cool swimming adventures. Harald Pohle, a founding member of the association and also mayor, remembered previous meetings that took place in sub-zero temperatures. Northern Courier reports that the “brackish rats” invite their friends to ice bath together every year and meet every week until the end of April to jump into the water three times and then visit the soothing sauna.

Tradition and community

The brackish spectacle has now become a fixture in the region. This year the event was all about community. Guests from different regions came to join in the merrymaking, which has its origins in brutally cold winters in which ice bathing poses a particular challenge. A highlight of Saturday was the speech by Achim from the “Rostocker Seehunden Warnemünde”, who talked about his exciting cold bathing experiences in various countries and thrilled those present with his stories.

The gathering and conviviality in particular make the event unique. Whether naked, in costume or in swimwear – everyone had fun. The frosty cold was quickly forgotten at the campfires on the bank, while participants and spectators alike enjoyed the cozy get-together. Most of them didn't want to miss the experience, but were then grateful for the small warm-up options such as the sauna, which was specially built by the club and has been in service for two decades.

The success of this event shows how important tradition and the sense of community are in Cumlosen. The “Cumloser Brackratten” have established ice bathing not only as a sporting activity in winter, but also as a social occasion where everyone is welcome. Plattenburg has also stated that participation in the brackish spectacle will be open again next year, and hopefully the weather will continue to be nice!

It should be noted that November 9th in Cumlosen is not just a date, but a real holiday for fans of cold baths, conviviality and regionality. It will be exciting to see what creative ideas the “Brackratten” come up with for future events. What is certain is that they have a good knack for making their small but beautiful events even more popular!