SIBERIAN ICE BARES

The Novosibirsk Naturist Helios club is closed to ice swimming in winter, but this season, summer sunbathing started already on 8 April. It became possible due to an incredibly warm spring. It was 19°C. (59°F.) on that day, and windstill. Since early March there had been no ice on the Ob river near Novosibirsk City, but the thickness safe to go swimming there (or rather, to walk out on the ice to the edge of clear water). At the same time, the beach is without snow in many places, and the sand is almost dry and warm enough. We were lying in the sun for three hours, as if it were in June, but that was after bathing in the ice water.

The Siberian summer is very short and full of surprises. Occasionally it has snowed in June. If you want to get a dark suntan you should start early in the season and lie in the sun every sunny day. Suntanning at the Black Sea makes you darker, but the Siberian Sun makes your tan stay longer.

The above information was published in a local paper “Evening Novosibirsk,” and it was also announced by three local radio stations. They had called for the citizens to enjoy our invitation for Saturday 12 April.

Bathing in ice water has ten advantages: mental clarity, freshness, energy, strength, beauty, youth, cleanliness, smooth skin, attractiveness, and health. This was written in one of the ancient books.

Vladimir Solntzev
(edited by Leif Heilberg)