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(12 Oct 1995) Russian/Nat With the onset of the harsh, Russian winter, members of St. Petersburg's Naturist Club braved the elements to celebrate the end of the summer season. Men and women of all ages defied the chilly temperatures and took the plunge into the icy waters of the Baltic Sea. The free-spirited naturists believe nudism and nature go hand in hand. So, to mark the end of the summer season, they decided to go for one last swim - braving the chilly October temperatures, they stripped off and took the plunge in the shores of the Baltic Sea. Before that though, there was plenty of drinking and dancing around the bonfires - a warm-up in every sense of the word. The St. Petersburg Naturist Club is open to all - people from all backgrounds and political allegiances have come together under the common umbrella of nature. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Here, all parties from all spectrums come together from the Communists to the Monarchists. We come to sunbathe on this beautiful beach. Honestly, people from all backgrounds join us. SUPER CAPTION: Nudist Russia's first naturist club was founded in 1932 but was forced to shut down during Stalin's purges. Sixty years later the laws banning nudism were relaxed and the Naturist Clubs enjoyed a revival which is growing steadily throughout Russia. The St. Petersburg Naturist Club has affiliations with other nudist clubs around the world. The brave nudists who survived the quick dip in the chilly sea, vowed they'd be back for more next year. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive:
