Forget the traditional beach or bar scene for finding love. Californians are now opting for a frosty alternative.
In the coastal city of Santa Monica, just outside Los Angeles, a unique event named Icebreakers is making waves as singles don swimsuits for speed dating in near-freezing ice baths.
Organized by IcePass, a Venice Beach company specializing in ice bath plunges and saunas, the event aims to break the ice, quite literally, and foster connections between participants. The chilly rendezvous unfolds after a session of meditation and a musical "sound journey," setting the stage for unconventional romantic encounters.
Attendees, clad in swim trunks and bikinis, are paired up randomly and take the plunge into a tub of water set at a bone-chilling 37 degrees Fahrenheit (2.78°C). Waterproof cards with thought-provoking questions like "What does love mean to you?" accompany the brave bathers during their three-minute sessions.
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Caitlyn Moyer, a 25-year-old dancer, shared her initial challenge, saying, "At first, it was hard to kind of focus in on what the question was because you're focused on how cold you are." However, she added, "Then, we kind of locked eyes and just focused on how we were both feeling, and then it was easy."
Miles Gibson, a 27-year-old engineer and Moyer's bathing partner appreciated the support, saying, "It was nice to have someone in there with me to kind of support me while acclimating to the temperature."
Gibson emphasized attending the event to "show up as my authentic self and be open to whatever was sort of there for me. Not necessarily looking for love, but open to receiving whatever feels right."
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The brainchild of Kyle Cassidy and Aryan Davani, co-founders of IcePass, the Icebreakers concept has hosted three-speed dating events thus far, each drawing around 30 to 40 participants. According to Cassidy, seven couples from these events have gone on second dates, and three are still together. He encourages participants to savor the experience and connection rather than focusing solely on finding a partner.
"If you're forcing it into existence, a lot of times you're pushing it away," Cassidy said. "The goal is to come here to just connect, and if love sparks, that's pretty special."
Whitney Hancock, a 36-year-old mental health worker, shared her experience with 39-year-old video producer Dustin Steward. "I was surprised at how present we could actually be with each other," Hancock said, "and how kind he was, even though we were both in, like, pain."
