Polar Bear Plunge

[distressedparent]

When is it this year? Day and time? Thanks

[jennyk]

The one in Hamilton will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Hamilton Lake public beach on S.R. 1, north of S.R. 427.

There is also a new one at Bixler Lake’s west beach at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009 to raise funds for the Kendallville Skatepark.

Hope this helps! I wouldn't want to take that icy plunge!!

[ebbieday]

I will NEVER understand why people do this. But, more power to those who can.

[jims]

I did it today.
I now really have no idea why people do it.

[matt_s]

Tell me you got video of this...

[kingster]

I'm Thinking about showing up to watch but thats it!

[TheBigB]

I did it today.
I now really have no idea why people do it.

Am I the only person thinking of the Seinfeld episode where George was trying to explain the concept of shrinkage?

[HoosierHelen]

I did it today.
I now really have no idea why people do it.

Thanks for sharing your experience Jim. I've always wanted to ask someone who does this - "what do you like about doing this?"

If anyone knows someone who does this regularly, I would love to hear how they describe their pleasure in this experience. It escapes my imagination!

[strawberry1969]

Hi all. No, I have not taken the "plunge". But my 20 yr old son is getting ready to take his second. First he gets on his appropriate gear, usually just a pair of his running shorts. Then you cover yourself in either vaseline or crisco. When the horn blows you quickly hand off whatever you were keeping warm in. You run down the embankment but not too fast as people are acting funny(many are intoxicated), and as the first ones come out they are making it slippery. You run down into the icy water, some actually jump in and completely enjoy the refreshing water. But most like my son just run down and into the water ,some may splash water on themselves,then run back up. Immediately looking for the person holding there warm clothes. Being the good mom I am standing there on the side when he comes out with towels, a blanket and his coat. This year is warmer than 2 years ago when my son took his first plunge as a senior in high school. Even though I myself do not have any desire to freeze my ta-tas, I have a great admiration for my son. In case your asking why he did not do it last year; he was in Iowa for the caucus as part of his January semester class for college. Otherwise he would have done it.
So I sit here typing this and in less then an hour he will take his second plunge!

[HoosierHelen]

Hey,

Thanks for sharing your story Strawberry. Does the Crisco keep them insulated a little bit? I have a friend who watched the Ft. Wayne group this year. It seems there is a Senior Polar Bear in Ft. Wayne who passed away and now his friends and family are showing up in his memory every year.

Now -those are REALLY good friends & family. They say it makes them feel good to do this in his memory. I wish I could recall his name to include on this post.

[matt_s]

Does the Crisco keep them insulated a little bit?

I can't speak from personal experience, but a friend of mine who has done this probably a dozen times now (I think he's nuts) says the crisco is to create a waterproof barrier on your body so that the your body doesn't bleed of heat quite as fast.

[Copycatted]

I can't speak from personal experience, but a friend of mine who has done this probably a dozen times now (I think he's nuts) says the crisco is to create a waterproof barrier on your body so that the your body doesn't bleed of heat quite as fast.

None that I knew of (twice) didn't have no crisco rub down back when Hamilton used to have Town Winter festivals and the polar bear swim was a competition to see who could stay in the longest. But after that second time when it came down to just me and a Cousin that were the only ones left (I recalled saying never again while changing into clothes after an 60 or so yard dash to an unheated garage across the road from the lake) niether love nor money or even a promise of a crisco rub down from Miss Universe for 2009 couldn't even get me out there polar bear swimming in that lake and THAT'S A FACT JACK!

[Dark Knight]

Larry Bassett is the most insane of them all, LOL! He not only jumped in but he sat in a pool chair with a toy fishing rod! It's one thing to get in and get out, but to STAY in the water and soak???????? He even described it as "a thousand needles sticking in you." Yet he stayed in! INSANE I TELL YA!

[Dark Knight]

This year is warmer than 2 years ago when my son took his first plunge as a senior in high school. Even though I myself do not have any desire to freeze my ta-tas, I have a great admiration for my son.

The WLKI.com video news showed the girls in their bikinis taking the plunge, and I must say the cold water does wonders for ta-ta's, LOL!

[james_t]

Tell me you got video of this...

We did. A little late, but it's up:

http://www.fwnews.tv/index.php?optio...id=3&video=146

I did it today.
I now really have no idea why people do it.

At least you grew all the hair back after that back waxing video last summer. Otherwise you might have got cold.

[HoosierHelen]

WOW! Great video! I'm surprised how many participated in Hamilton. I do believe you had more than in Ft. Wayne.

Now Santa and his friend setting out there on the ice ledge really took my breath away. No jumping in and running right out for them!

[james_t]

More polar bears this past weekend at Jimmerson Lake channel.

http://www.fwnews.tv/index.php?optio...id=3&video=197