FREEZING-COLD FUN
800 ‘Polar Bears’ plunge into frigid waters of Lake George
LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. >> Three waves, numbering more than 800 wild and crazy New Year’s Day revelers, started off 2019 in spinetingling fashion by racing into Lake George’s 36.2-degree water during annual Polar Bear Plunge festivities on Tuesday.
The turnout was twice that of last year’s when single- digit temperatures kept many people away.
“I do it every year to stay young,” said veteran Polar Bear Phil Alonzo, 77, of Saratoga Springs. “It was easy getting in there today. Last year they had to chop a hole in the ice.”
Frank Ryan and his son, Jordan, 34, of Cohoes, were among this year’s firsttime Polar Bears.
“He wanted to do it, so he dragged me with him,” Frank Ryan said, smiling.
“We came up last year as a family to watch,” Jordan said. “I think it was 2 degrees. Being 44 today, I guess we’ll be alright.”
After completing the feat, still soaking wet, Frank said: “That was beautiful! Ice cold, but really nice. With the sun out it feels really good. It really wakes you up.”
Begun in the early 1970s by the late Charles “Papa Bear” Albert, the Polar Plunge has become an annual rite of passage for many people who come back year after year.
For a trio of New York Giants fans, from Clifton Park, the icy swim symbolized hope for a new start, following their favorite team’s disappointing 5-11 record in 2018.
“Hopefully with a number six draft pick we’ll get an offensive lineman,” Bill Radley said. “From there it will all progress.”
“What a way to start the year,” Mike Borden said. “Kick it off with a little shock to the system.”
“It’s like a reset button,” Mike Harrison said. “It gets the whole year off right.”
Organized by Duffy’s Tavern owner, Linda Duffy, the Polar Bear Plunge is also a fundraiser, with registration fees going to a Shriners Hospital in Springfield, Mass., and Lake George Fire Department.
The Troy-based Oriental Shriners covers a territory from the Capital Region north to the Canadian border and west to Central New York.
“Last year Linda gave us $2,400,” said Gaylord Hawley, Shriners potentate. “We helped the hospital set up their acute rehabilitation program. With this many people, it looks like we’ll get more money this year.”
Lake George is one of five area fire departments whose members donned wet suits and stood in the icy water to contain the Shepard Park Beach swimming area, and help anyone who needed assistance. Warren County Sheriff’s officers, state police and local EMS agencies also lent a hand.
“I can’t say enough about the guys who come out to volunteer,” said Scott Smith, Lake George fire chief. “They gave up their time on New Year’s Day.”
Surveying the fun-loving Polar Bears, he said, “They get crazier every year. God bless ‘em. Better them than me.”
Ariel Santiago, of Amsterdam, wears a specialthemed zany costume each year. This time, he came adorned as “Recycle Man” as part of an anti-littering campaign. Santiago was covered with pieces of paper including Lottery scratchoff tickets, auto parts store receipts, and a Chinese restaurant meu.
Corinth American Legion Auxiliary member Celia Lockhart joined her husband, Dave, and three other veterans – Frank Pingelski and Josh Cauffiel of Corinth, and Keith Koster of Saratoga Springs. Together, they represented The American Legion’s “Fabulous” Fourth District.
“I would much rather have it 20 degrees than 40,” Koster said. “The water feels better when it’s cold out.”
He has a simply strategy for enjoying the Plunge.
“Take a big exhale of breath, come up and have a lot of fun,” Koster said. “I think the adrenaline overtakes, so you don’t realize how cold you are. It’s all a blur.”
Eric Gutmann, a student at Auburn University in Alabama, came one of the farthest distances for this year’s event.
“As an Auburn fan, I hope Alabama loses in the college football national championship game,” he said. “But as an analyst I’ll think they’ll win.”
Rookie Polar Bear Leo Boucher, of Glens Falls, made his first- ever Plunge at the urging of his girlfriend, Aly Birch, of Staten Island. To his credit, he went in all the way by diving beneath the surface.
“It’s just as bad as I thought it was going to be,” Boucher said. “If you’re going to do it, you might as well do it 100 percent. I don’t know what hurts more, the hangover or this.”