He thrills audiences and impresses scientists. Thanks to rigorous training, breathing techniques and meditation sessions, Wim Hof has developed almost superhuman resistance to the cold. Here’s a look back at the journey of a man who seems to be at one with the ice and, beyond his performances, spreads a veritable mantra of life.
While winter encourages us to get out our down jackets, scarves and other well-covered accessories, there’s one man who, whatever the season, walks around in shorts and a t-shirt all year round. And he goes even further, exposing himself to sub-zero temperatures and icy waters, with a control of mind and body that leaves you speechless. But who is Wim Hof, aka Ice Man?
A method based on three pillars
Born in 1959 in the Netherlands, Wim Hof grew up in a modest family of nine children. At the age of 17, he plunged into his first cold-water bath. This brief moment in his life was a revelation: the young man found himself in total osmosis with his physiology, and developed a passion for the practice. Already close to nature and Zen philosophies, Wim Hof discovered that his spirituality and connection to himself were enhanced by low-temperature mercury.
Over the years, he fine-tunes his method for staying longer in icy waters and resisting the cold ever more strongly. Wim Hof became Iceman, and popularized these shivering experiences around the world. And while one might think that Wim Hof’s ability is rare and genetic, he denies it and values training. His twin doesn’t have the same stamina as he does.
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“With Iceman comes the idea that by cutting ourselves off from exposure to the cold through our urban lifestyle, we would also have atrophied many of the powerful physiological processes that had played a key role in the survival of our ancestors,” states his website.
His method is based on three pillars: intense breathing exercises, repeated exposure to the cold and a state of mind that oscillates between determination and letting go, correlated with deep meditation. The idea is to go gradually, starting with longer and longer cold showers.
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This process, applied with motivation and in a supervised manner, would then make it possible to endure extreme temperatures and achieve a kind of plenitude and freedom. In addition to this harmony with his physiology and mental strength, Iceman highlights the health benefits, with increased flexibility, strengthened immune system and better stress management.
“Cold is an absolute gateway to the soul,” declares Wim Hof, like an Ice Age guru. Wim Hof’s platform, which offers free and paid courses and documentation, reports that over 200,000 people now practice his method. Already popular with top athletes, many celebrities have taken up ice baths, including Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Madonna and Kylian Mbappé.
Multiple records
In 2000, having just celebrated his 40th birthday, Iceman set an ice-swimming world record, covering no less than 57.5 metres in icy water without a wetsuit. Two years later, he freed for 6.20 minutes under the ice, before staying just over an hour in an ice-filled tube in 2004. In 2013, the athlete remained in direct contact with the ice for 1h53. He has also completed a barefoot half-marathon in the Arctic Circle.
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Dressed only in hiking boots and shorts, and adorned with a backpack, he reached the summit of Kilimanjaro in 2008. He also climbed Mont Blanc in shorts and made part of the ascent of Everest in 2007, stopping just over 7,800 meters short of the 8,849-meter mark due to a foot injury. At an altitude of 2,000 metres, Iceman also lifted himself on one hand.
In all, Wim Hof, now aged 65, holds 27 world records. He continues his regular practice, and can count on the support of many enthusiasts, such as Jean-François Tual, to spread the concept.
Read also: Who is Paul Watson, the mythical defender of the oceans?
Featured Photo: © Instagram Wim Hof
