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  • Polar Bear Plunge – Freezing Dips For Fun?

    Polar Bear Plunge – Freezing Dips For Fun?

    New Year’s day marks the 9th annual Toronto Polar Bear Swim – where thousands of swimmers show up to dip themselves into sub zero temperature waters in some of the coldest places in Canada.

    Some swim, some just dip, but it took place all across Canada today – by people who others might call crazy – plunging into ice-cold bodies of water.

    Many of these dips and plunges are for good causes though, such as Habitat for Humanity, local food banks and much more.

    Some 2,000 plungers were expected today at Vancouver’s Polar Bear Swim in English Bay, where the temperature was in the 5 C range.

    “This year we had 2,550 swimmers at the polar bear swim, which is a record, previously eclipsing a record of 2,246 in 2011, with approximately 10,000 spectators,” said spokesman Sean Healy.

    Warnings were issued though, before participants sprinted into the water, not to stay in the water longer than 30 minutes.

    Other polar swims took place today across B.C. in Deep Cove, Delta, Port Moody and White Rock.

    Organizers of the 9th annual Toronto Polar Bear Swim raised $32,000 for Habitat for Humanity — a charity that helps provide affordable housing to low-income families. The swim took place on Sunnyside Beach in the city’s west end.

    “I heard if you do it, you can call yourself a real Canadian,” said Stuart Irvine-Brown who was visiting from Australia’s Gold Coast and was wearing a red swimsuit.

    Image via YouTube

  • Polar Bear Plunge: A Chilly Tribute To Charity

    In Asbury Park, New Jersey, a large crowd brought in the New Year in a rather unconventional manner. Wearing bathing suits, costumes, and even carrying flags with them, hundreds of enthusiastic participants ran into the freezing ocean. It was all in good fun. The Sons of Ireland Polar Bear Plunge is one version of the international event that occurs every year, where participants take the “plunge” in the the freezing water. The event is usually associated with charity in the United States, however in Canada, the event is a tradition for bringing in the New Year.

    Sean Clifford, 42, of Rumson is a co-founder of the Sons of Ireland Program and one of the very first plungers to participate in the New Jersey-based charity event. Says Clifford, ““When we first started the plunge, it was only 15 of us that did it in Sea Bright. [We] just decided to start a tradition with a group of friends and we decided to do it on New Year’s Day.”

    It isn’t just the feel good factor of giving money to those in need that inspires spectators and participants since then.

    “It was just participation of something cool with a bunch of people,” said Gene Boyle. The 57-year-old has participated in the event an unbelievable five times. Being a veteran of the event, he pretty much knew what to anticipate.

    “I expected the water to be cold and just as invigorating as it was.”

    Polar Bear Plunge is a popular event in various locations in North America that continues to grow in popularity each year. There were plunges in locations ranging from Vancouver, Canada to Flagstaff, Arizona.

    Here is a video of the Polar Bear Plunge event that took place in Sheboygan, WI:

    Thousands of people participated and from the looks of it had a great deal of fun. Some might shake their heads and figure it’s better to stay warm, dry, and indoors on a day like today. But for the daring, nothing says “Happy New Year” like a departure from the norm and creating fun memories. Diving into freezing waters in your underwear? Definitely something that will be remembered for a long time.

    Image via Sheboygan Daily Youtube