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This year’s “Polar Plunge” has been on thin ice—literally.
Above-average temperatures for the past month left Voyageur Lions Club members praying for colder weather in order for there to be enough ice to hold the event, which features brave souls jumping into the frigid waters of Sand Bay through a hole in the ice each New Year’s Day.
Alternatives—ranging from building a tank for people to jump into to postponing the event altogether—were suggested.
But club member Bill Michl, who also is governor of Lions International District 5M-10, held onto hope that Jack Frost would prevail and it seems he has—just in the nick of time.
“We checked on Boxing Day and there was about two inches [of ice],” said Michl, noting they want at least four inches to hold the event.
Michl checked again yesterday morning and there was about three inches.
“So we’re going to say it’s a go,” he remarked. “We’ve got about three inches of ice out where it’s deep enough to make the hole.”
But due to the “thin” ice, Michl is warning spectators to stay off it.
“Everybody that doesn’t have to be on the ice should not be on the ice,” he stressed.
“Usually we don’t mind if a few people stand around the hole,” he noted. “But this year because of the ice, we’d like everyone to stay off.”
However, Michl still is encouraging people to come out and cheer on the jumpers, with spectators able to stand on the Rendez-Vous dock.
“Where we have to make the hole to have the depth, there might not be the greatest view,” Michl admitted.
“But the jumpers will have to walk out that way so they will be able to see everybody.”
Meanwhile, Michl is hopeful there will be a good turnout of jumpers this year.
“We have a lot of pledge sheets out to a lot of people,” he noted, adding it would be great if all those who took pledge sheets turned out to participate in the annual event.
He also said it’s not too late for anyone to start collecting pledges to take an icy dip on Jan. 1.
In fact, quite a few people show up on the day of the “Plunge” with money in hand—sometimes as a result of a New Year’s Eve bet.
Jumpers can take the plunge on their own or as a representative of a local group or organization.
Michl said people have to have collected at least $50 to jump.
Participating groups receive half of the net proceeds raised by jumpers while those interested in doing so as individuals raise funds for the Voyageur Lions.
“You have to jump for a non-profit or registered charity group and whatever you raise, we give half of that to your charity of choice,” Michl explained.
“The other half goes to our Lions’ projects, locally and district-wide, whatever we support.”
The “Plunge” will start at 1 p.m. behind La Place Rendez-Vous, with registration getting underway at 11 a.m.
Michl is hopeful this year will be as successful as last year, when 44 jumpers grossed $16,394 in pledges.
And Michl said the weather for Friday is looking good.
“Sunny and cold—just the way we like it≤” he enthused.
