The competition has been held annually since 2012 and in recent years has been part of the World Cup. The Winter Swimming World Cup is an open competition where anyone can participate (as long as they register first). Participants swim distances of 25, 50, or 100 meters in the ice hole. There is also a relay of 4 x 25 meters breaststroke and freestyle where both genders must be represented, as well as the events Poetry in the Ice Hole ("Poesi i vak") and Music in the Ice Hole ("Musik i vak").