Polar Bears Ignore the Cold to Take Plunge into Lake Michigan  

On New Year’s Day, the polar bears show up on beaches along Lake Michigan and other lakes around the country to jump into the frozen water.

These human “polar bears”  are members of a national club of cold water swimmers. Others join in for a New Year’s Day thrill.

Dy Godsey recently moved from Florida to Waukesha. She thought she would try out the local cold-weather tradition. She took part in the annual polar bear plunge on Lake Nemahbin in Waukesha County.

“It was kind of a rush, starting your day like this,” she said.

Godsey is not alone. Thousands of people all around the country take part in “polar bear” events on January 1. Some do it for fun. Some do it for charity. They come out whether the temperature is a balmy 30 degrees or, when the temperature dips below zero. 

Lake Nemahbin jumper Marie Gummo raised money for the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital with her jump.

“It was great, and we did it for a good reason,” she said.

Milwaukee jump

A similar event on the Lake Michigan shore in Milwaukee drew hundreds of people. Most said that alcohol helped make the jump bearable.

Dave Walsea, a 40-year-old firefighter from Burlington, wore a grass skirt, football helmet and bikini top for his jump.

He held a can of beer afterwards.

“How many drinks does it take to jump in the lake?” Walsea said. “Well, this is about my fourth.”

Some, however, just like the experience. They like the feel of wading into icy-cold waters, if only for a few minutes.

Milwaukee jumper Troy Lewein does not drink before jumping in.

“It’s more invigorating that way,” he said.

Many cities on bodies of water hold Polar Bear jumps.

Members of the Coney Island Polar Bears Club in New York have jumped since 1903. The group is the oldest cold-water swimming club in the nation.

Sources: The Freeman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wikipedia