Page-Lake Powell’s 4th Annual

Polar Bear Banner 2005.jpg (76066 bytes)

  wpe1.jpg (40928 bytes)
Jimmy Carter made the mistake of shopping in Safeway Saturday afternoon when the Plunge coordinator was
in the store picking up a 12-pack of Klondyke Bars.  Ninety minutes later...Carter was a changed man!

wpe6.jpg (35621 bytes)
2005 Polar Bear participants bask in a cold water 'afterglow'


wpe5.jpg (33505 bytes)               wpe2.jpg (41159 bytes)
        NFC Wins Ceremonial Coin Toss!           Regina Lane accepts 'Brave Heart' Trophy

Year

# of Polar Bears

Air Temperature

Water Temperature

Predicted Super Bowl Winner

2002 6 30 degrees 48.5 degrees AFC - New England Paddlers
2003 24 45 degrees 50.2 degrees AFC - Oakland Waders
2004 Private party
(only  3)
39 degrees,
snow pellets and 25 mph wind
 46.9 degrees

NFC - Carolina Penguins

2005 7 51 degrees 50.2 degrees

NFC - Philadelphia Sea Gulls

  
Press Release
January 29, 2005

  The Philadelphia "Sea Gulls" win 2005 Super Bowl ceremonial coin toss

This year's event saw the induction of five new Polar Bear members:  Mark Hansen, Jimmy Carter, Regina Lane, Shannon Santucci, and Diane Ostapuk who surprised the audience with a last second  strip and cold water entry.

A forecasted storm front failed to materialized and so a ceremonial bag of ice was broadcast into Lake Powell to make the water "Minnesota Cold".  Participants can literally say they "broke the ice" when making their cold water entry.  The water temperature for this year's event was 50.2 degrees, up 3.3 degrees over last year when snow pellets and cold gusty winds added a bit of weather drama to the annual event.

The highlight of this year's event was a 'Brave Heart' plunge performed by Regina Lane who accepted a $200 charity bribe for the Page-Lake Powell Community Foundation.  Ms. Lane (left speechless by the plunge event) was presented a 'Cold Heart' trophy for her participation.  At press time, Lane had not yet committed to a repeat performance next year.

Following the plunge event...a Super Bowl coin flip by Polar Bear Princess Traci Varner projected that the Philadelphia 'Sea Gulls' would reign supreme in next Sunday's Super Bowl contest.


Do you have the courage to be a Lake Powell Polar Bear?

For More Information
Paul Ostapuk at 645-6577 / 4959 or Jody Gebhardt at 645-1456 / 608- 6035

Life is short:  So Live a little, Laugh a little…Play a lot!
And it’s never too cold to eat ice cream or take a swim in Lake Powell.

 


F.A.Q. - Cold Water Swimming      Entry Forms and Waiver     

2004 Photos    2003 Photos    2002 Photos  

 Photo Gallery - Cold Water Swimming Images from around the World

Polar Bear Club and Cold Water Swimming Links



Benefits of becoming a Polar Bear Member

    1)  Shocking the circulatory system can produce a warm afterglow and a transcendental
    state that one literally needs to experience to fully understand.

    2)  It is a spiritually uplifting ritual which can surpass any normal level of comprehension.

    3)  It can reduce wrinkles.    Drastic temperature changes and shivering skin actually
         exercise shallow sub-cutaneous muscles that firm the skin.

    4)  You become part of history rooted in the European tradition of saunas and cold-water
         bathing
.

    5)  Jumping in near-freezing water wearing little more than a pair of shorts takes a brave
         soul.

    6)  Participants build a sense of camaraderie and valued friendships that can last a lifetime.

    7)  It helps mentally by shortening the winter season and lifts bouts of depression. 

    8)  It's a heck of lot cheaper and safer than walking on coals.