The idea of getting into “Ice Cold” water on a daily basis wasn’t a new idea for me. Being someone who openly admits to using himself as his own Guinea Pig when it comes to fitness, health and diet related ideas, the idea had lingered with me for some time.
Having developed several injuries through the years from a dislocated ankle to several tendon injuries mainly stemming from overuse, I was curious about what cold water therapy could do for me.
It was actually my wife that got the ball rolling with an early (Feb 2024) birthday present in the form of one of those freestanding pop up Cold Plunges. 6 bags of ice tipped into 18 degree tap water made a slight dent to the temperature to get it down to around 12 degrees. 2 very curious Plunges later and that’s when it hit me in the middle on a sand job at OC Tenders……… Why don’t you make one you dope!?
I quite literally had almost all of the materials I needed at home thanks to my other business, OXS Skimboards. With a composite manufacturing background, irrigation and basic plumbing knowledge and no fear of failing, I set to work. First I needed to get and keep the water cold, a day or 2 later I had the first of several test chillers ordered. Very closely behind the decision was made on how and what I was building.
What followed was some phone calls, resin, fibreglass, foam, too much head scratching and on the 3rd of May 2024 at 6am I took my first Plunge in my own tub I made and it was horrific ha. What a bloody odd way to get your day started I thought. What an extreme shock to the system , my hands hurt and it was dark. This Plunge is still the most difficult one for me as you have zero physical and mental ability to handle it. What I found very shortly after is that your body adjusts very quickly to the cold and your mind kind of lags behind, negotiating with you, potentially forever.
Over a year later I sit here trying to write blog posts for the new site, while my family is away and a Snowflake model tub is sitting at a gym in Paihia ready for fitness competitors to sample it the next morning.
There’s been a lot of progress in the last year, there is plenty more to come from here.
Happy Plunging.
-Sam
