Sisters Completed Year of Daily Cold Plunges

Emma and Annie Stafki finished 365 days of cold water exposure at Tacoma's Owen Beach to support local orca conservation.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Swimming

Screen-print poster illustration of wooden pilings in a dark, misty sea with an orca fin, evoking regional marine conservation efforts. — Emma and Annie Stafki completed a year of daily cold water plunges at Tacoma's Owen Beach, raising awareness for the preservation of endangered Puget Sound orcas. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Emma and Annie Stafki concluded a year-long challenge of daily cold plunges in the Puget Sound on Sunday. The effort was designed to draw public attention to the environmental struggles facing the local orca population.

Why it matters

The sisters aimed to spark community conversation about the health of the Puget Sound ecosystem by linking their physical endurance challenge to the plight of endangered orcas. They intend to continue using their platform to advocate for marine conservation.

The challenge spanned exactly 365 consecutive days starting in October 2025. Approximately 250 participants joined the sisters for the final beach cleanup and group plunge event.

The players

Emma Stafki

Emma Stafki is a 22-year-old activist who previously produced a documentary about orca populations.

Annie Stafki

Annie Stafki is a 17-year-old who partnered with her sister to complete a year of daily cold plunges.

The Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is an environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's oceans and beaches.

The details

Emma and Annie Stafki, aged 22 and 17 respectively, chronicled their year of daily Puget Sound cold plunges through their website and social media. Their final event at Point Defiance Park involved a morning beach cleanup co-hosted by the South Sound chapter of The Surfrider Foundation before the concluding group plunge.

The sisters began their daily cold plunge challenge in October 2025.
The beach cleanup event began at 9 a.m. on October 4, 2026.
The scheduled cold plunge activity commenced at 11 a.m. on October 4, 2026.
The sisters completed their 365th and final cold plunge on October 4, 2026.

Deeper Dive

This story follows a pattern set by the Puget Sound orca recovery efforts to raise awareness for endangered species through public engagement.

The successful completion of the challenge marks the end of their year-long public advocacy campaign. Residents can expect the sisters to transition their focus to digital content regarding orca population concerns via their established website.

The takeaway

Commitment to a year-long physical challenge can serve as a powerful vehicle for drawing local attention to broader environmental causes. Interested citizens can monitor the sisters' ongoing advocacy work through their dedicated online platform.