Saturday, February 26, 2011

Sundays in My City/Weekly Winners: Polar Plunge!


Sundays in My City is a weekly photo meme hosted by the lovely, post-partum Unknown Mami. Stop by her place for more cultural displays :) And visit Lotus to see stunning photography from near and far.

Yesterday, in Green Bay, the annual "Polar Plunge" to benefit Special Olympics took place. (Yes, people in Green Bay know how to have fun in the winter, even when football season ends! :)

For the Plunge, teams collect donations in exchange for taking a dip in frigid waters. On this day, the outside temperature was in the upper teens. A large hole was cut in the ice on a local swimming hole, and teams of crazy people were not in short supply.

This was my first time observing The Plunge, and in spite of frozen toes and fingers, it was very entertaining! There was quite a variety of personalities in each of the teams, but costumes appeared to be the rule for experienced plungers; that, and the "bring a friend" philosophy....









These kind souls wore wetsuits and hung out in the water for hours, giving assistance
to those who became momentarily confused/paralyzed/traumatized (imagine that!) after plunging.


Kyle and a couple of fraternity brothers decided to get involved this year.
As newbies, they forgot costumes, but as you can see, that was the last thing on their minds.

Ready...(yes, that's snow)


Set....


Go!


[insert huh-huh-huh-huh-huh and teeth-chattering sound effects here]


Doesn't that look refreshing?!


In case the photos didn't quite capture enough of the fun for you, here's the video:


They had a great time and plan to do it again next year.
In case there is any doubt, NO, I will not be joining them (at least not in the water).

41 comments:

  1. This is on my bucket list! Awesome.

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  2. I LOVE Kyle's face in the second to last picture. Too much. ;)

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  3. Great, but definately not on MY bucket list, ha ha! It might be even worse up here in Alaska, but I will not try to find out. Way to go Kyle! :0

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  4. I can't decide it this is awesome or insane, I am cold just looking at the photos.
    It looks like a fun, but freezing day for everyone.

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  5. That looks so cold. What a funny contrast to my Sunday photos. LOL!
    I prefer my sunshine.

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  6. This is as close as I will ever get to jumping in freezing water. Tell Kyle thanks for the fun of watching him and his friends.

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  7. This is both so fun looking and NUTS! lol! GREAT shots of their faces! I love the ones of when people are just about ready to jump in! Crazy! I'd be afraid my heart would stop!

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  8. Oh my word. OH MY WORD! Oh my word.
    My teeth are chattering.
    Kyle is such a cutie. Seriously the cutest.

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  9. This gave me goose bumps. Love all the funny expressions on the kids' faces, and how in the second snap that one girl was holding her nose. Great set!

    Looks like a lot of fun was had for a wonderful cause. Good for the Polar Bears.

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  10. Hilarious!

    I don't blame you for staying on the side. Hope you had hot chocolate!

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  11. ANNC: Next on MRS4444 TV we have the annual Polar Plunge for the Special Olympics brought to you by the Frozen Fraternity of UW/Green Bay. Then be sure to watch Thawing Tips - Green Bay, the show that ensures no molecular cell damage for tissue in suspended animation. Its an exciting afternoon here on the tundra.

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  12. Oh Barb! These are great photos! I especially like the one of the boys in mid air! I agree with Sheila; it looks like fun and totally nutty too.

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  13. BRRRRRR...love it, thanks to those brave souls!!! Kyle looks sooo much like you in the video, Barb, some of his expressions:) Lisa

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  14. Okay these people are a lot braver than I am. I don't think I'd take a plunge but then you Green Bay citizens are braver than us Floridians.

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  15. Silly me! And I thought that running around the house in bare feet on the snow was nuts. Excuse me while I take a hot shower.

    I know people DO this----but it makes me ache just watching the video. LOL

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  16. kyle has guts and maybe a loose nut in his head. enjoyed his pics and video.
    I like the second pic from the top. But I can't help but notice that the first one has six crazies and the action shot (great shot) only has 4. Two came to their senses?

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  17. Just watching that took 10 years off my life. Oh to be young and crazy again.

    For all that suffering, I sure hope they raised a lot of money.

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  18. Oh that looks so frigid, I'm getting cold just looking at your pictures! Think I'll wrap my mitts around a hot cup of coffee now.

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  19. I've always wanted to do something like this-- my brother does it every year in our area! Maybe next year.. ;)

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  20. OH MY WORD! That looks FREEZING!

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  21. Fun!!! I've heard of this, but never seen any photos. It looks like everyone has such a great time, and for a great cause!!
    I hope those boys who wore their shoes had a spare pair - I imagine it would take forever for them to thaw out!

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  22. Brrrr! I am cold just watching that. Terrific capture of the event!

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  23. Whoa! That gave me chills just looking at the pics. I can't believe they did that. Wow.
    jj

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  24. Nice action shots... those people are brave (or are they crazy?)!

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  25. *shudder* God, now I'm SHIVERING!!

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  26. Awesome, how fun (to ummm watch). That cracks me up - but kudos to Kyle for joining in. Any chance you'll do it one year? I bet you could come up with a great costume.

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  27. they do that here in NYC on new years eve, they have a club called the polar bear club!

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  28. What great pictures. I did the Polar Plunge when I lived in Alaska, it was exhilarating to say the least.

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  29. Ugh. Dying just looking at these shots!

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  30. Oh my goodness glory, what a brave soul Kyle is!!! This is soooo not on my bucket list!

    Loved the pics and the video!

    God bless ya and have a glorious week sweetie!!!

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  31. me again - this post inspired a post for me - so I gave you a shout-out - thanks all the best

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  32. Lisleman sent me.

    I too live in the frozen north--White Mtns of NH and there are a number of plunges up here for charity. I just cannot imagine doing it myself. I enjoyed watchiing YOUR son and his friends, however. As you said,
    "Nicely done."

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  33. I guess the "ears ringing/burning" (always get those sayings mixed up) doesn't work with blogs. Well there has been some readers talking about you over on a post of mine.

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  34. So much craziness!! I love the photo you got of them almost touching the water on their way in. The anticipation of the frigid water is a hoot!!

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  35. Four words:

    You are all crazy.

    And I LOVE IT!!!

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