Memphremagog Winter Swimming Society

This past weekend, three pool records were set in the 50, 100, and 200 Meter Free, all by Markus Rogan, of Los Angeles, the unheralded Olympic Silver Medalist among us for the weekend. In the 100 and 200 Meter Free Markus broke the records set by Stephen Rouch in 2024 by a couple of seconds. In the 50 Meter Free he broke the record set by Canadian. Craig Ross in 2018 by half a second. Stephen still holds his pool records as a Non-Binary competitor. Speedy Craig Ross still holds his pool records in the 25 Meter Free and Fly, but the overall pool record belongs to Markus in these three events ..... pending judicial review of his flip turns. Congratulations and thanks for joining our Low Society. You, your family, and your Octo buddy, Michael, seem to fit right in.

Speaking of records, Michael Donaldson of Los Angeles now holds the record for the most "mature" among us at 86, along with Awesome Octo Ginny Peck at 80 among the women. while Margaret Rivard holds the record for the youngest to swim at The Festival, which she did when she was 11 in 2019. She's also the youngest to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming, which she did when she was 16 years old.

The Mystic Merfolk won a collective Skallywag of the Year Award - Some Antique Ice Tongs. Their acceptance song left some in tears.

Below are the words and a link to their PERFORMANCE.

Memphremagog (Mama Mia)

I've been waiting to swim since I don't know when
So I made up my mind, I must come back again,
Look at me now, will I ever learn?
I don’t know why, but I suddenly have to swim,
There's an iceberg within my soul!

[Pre-Chorus]
On the ice, and I forget everything
On your mark! and I hear the start ring, woah uhoh!
[Chorus]
Memphremagog, here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?
Memphremagog, here you are again
My my, just how much I've missed you!

Yes, I am fricking freezing
Blue skin and teeth chattering,
But, why, why did I ever let you go?
Memphremagog, now I really know
My my, I could never let you go

[Verse 2]
Back in Northern Vermont, where it’s totally cold
But our hea-rts are warm, and the friendships are bold
And when we go, when we leave this place
I think you know, that we won't be away too long.
Baby, we are that strong!

[Pre-Chorus/Chorus]
On the ice, and we forget everything
On your mark! and we hear the start ring, woah uhoh!
[Memphremagog, here we go again
My my, how could we resist you?]
Memphremagog, here we are again
My my, we could never let you go!

New video · Saturday, Feb 21 🎬 Tap to view!

Read all about it. And yes, we have scheduled next year's Festival, will be limiting it to two days of swimming and limiting the number of swimmers to 125. And yes, Online Registration for 2027 is now open,

Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival 2026 - Results, Photos and More Email from Kingdom Games Octogenarians Ginny Peck and Michael Donaldson (with his buddy, Markus Rogan) kick off the Hat Competition Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival 2026 Once again, for a few days in

Hard tp believe. Less than ONE WEEK to TOTALLYCOLD!

Memphremagog Winter Swim Festival Winter Swimming onLake Memphremagog, Newport, Vermont

It’s that time again when Phil White performs the ceremonial “opening of the ice”. Phil has been working out for this day and he is totally jacked! This is the first year that he has worn clothes for the ceremony.

LAST CALL!

1 day left to Register for the Best Damn Pool Party in All of the Americas Email from Kingdom Games Photo by Bailey Photography Last Call Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival February 20-22, 2026 One Day left to register for The 12th Annual Memphremagog Winter Swimming Fest