# Winter Swimmer Photography Mathieu Asselin's 'Winterswimmers' Series Documents a Wacky Ritual By Vasiliki Marapas | Published 2015-01-05 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/winterswimmers References: [featureshoot](http://www.featureshoot.com/2015/01/portraits-winter-swimmers-revel-icy-atlantic/) & [mathieuasselin](http://mathieuasselin.com/) New York-based photographer Mathieu Asselin captures an ancient tradition for his latest project, a series titled 'Winterswimmers.' In the early 1900's, a man by the name of Bernarr Macfadden espoused his belief that [winter swimming](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cold-water-immersion-system) was an effective practice for improving stamina, virility and immunity. Macfadden went on to found the 'Coney Island [Polar Bear Club](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shockresistant-watch),' which gathered a group of swimmers to routinely brave the frigid temperatures of the Atlantic Ocean during the winter. Today, there are still a dedicated group of swimmers who take the [icy plunge](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luxury-cold-plunge); most notably on New Year's day, where they celebrate the brand-new year with a glacial dip. Asselin stumbled upon the winter swimmers by chance and was immediately captivated by their determination, fearlessness and wacky commitment to a bizarre ritual. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.9/10 - Popularity: 93% | Activity: 77% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Photography](https://www.trendhunter.com/stylephotography) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Winter Swimming:** Opportunity to develop innovative cold-weather athletic gear for winter swimmers. - **Documentary Photography:** Potential for creating unique visual narratives around niche cultural traditions. - **Extreme Sports:** Exploring the market for adrenaline-fueled activities that push individuals out of their comfort zones. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Sports Apparel:** Creating specialized clothing and equipment for extreme cold-water swimming. - **Photography:** Developing a niche market for documentary photography that captures unique cultural practices. - **Adventure Tourism:** Promoting winter swimming as an adventurous experience for tourists in cold climates. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Global Ice Bath Directories](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ice-bath-directories.md) - [Cold Plunge Tracker Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cold-plunge-tracker.md) - [Climate-Positive Outdoor Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/askov-finlayson-1.md) - [Cold Therapy Showers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sno-shower.md) - [Advanced Wellness Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contrast-therapy.md) - [Ice-Powered Fitness Classes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-coolest-class.md) - [Convenience-Focused Contrast Therapy Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/contrast-therapy1.md) - [Water-Circulating Cold Plunge Tubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plunge-allin-ice-bath.md) - [Luxury Cold Plunge Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luxury-cold-plunge.md)