Dark Mofo may be scales back, but the festival’s annual nude swim is still making big waves. More swimmers than ever before threw their towels at dawn to run into the cool river Derwent, marking the winter solstice.
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00:00An enthusiastic crowd willing to bear it all to mark the shortest day of the year.
00:07I think the solstice is an important moment for many people. It's about the beginning of a new cycle and a new moment in time and I think that's what brings a lot of people here.
00:18Many in the crowd were returning swimmers, coming prepared.
00:21I brought my own coffee so I don't have to stand in that coffee queue.
00:25The memory of hot coffee was quickly forgotten as bodies hit the frigid water.
00:30It wasn't long before the mass water exodus and towel finding.
00:35I thought it wouldn't be so cold, I thought it was freezing.
00:38Oh it's just very invigorating and just very exciting.
00:42More people are opting for costumes post swim.
00:45The Frog Women from Brisbane have become such a familiar part of the annual event that they've inspired other groups like the Lobster Ladies from Melbourne.
00:53The build up to it is so exciting.
00:56It's the electricity that's behind all the people being together and just having everybody being one.
01:04There was some speculation that the event would be less popular this year with fewer interstate visitors travelling to a reduced Dark Mofo festival.
01:11Instead the swim was bigger than ever, up from 2,000 last year to 3,000 this year.
01:17Organisers say they increased the capacity because they're inundated every year with messages from people disappointed they missed out on a spot.
01:25The event was still fully subscribed within days.
01:28I just love everything, the shock, the adrenaline, the people, the camaraderie.
01:33Taking my clothes off, getting warm.