JACKSONPORT, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — What do you do on a cold New Years Day?
In Door County, the answer is jump into the freezing cold of lake Michigan.
The 35th and 36th Jacksonport Polar Bear Club Swim came back Saturday, making up for last years COVID cancellation.
Heath Kennedy has been jumping in for five years.
“What else are you gonna do on January first,” questioned Kennedy.
He put on a show running into the lake, letting his body freefall into the freezing water.
But what happens after?
“Well your whole body goes numb so you can’t feel anything,” said Kennedy. “But I know I am cold.”
The water temperature is 32 degrees and the air is just 19. So for those brave souls that went into Lake Michigan, they were warmer in the water than out.
President and Founder of the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club, the man in the tuxedo himself, J.R. Jarosh says this brings out the true Wisconsinites.
“It really embodies, to me, what being Wisconsin and a hearty Midwesterner is all about,” said Jarosh.
The swim started in 1986 when he was just 14 years old, going in the water by himself.
On this day, between 500 and 600 people took to the water.
To him, it’s return was long awaited.
“This year, with a good majority of people vaccinated and being outdoors,” said Jarosh. “We felt like it was something that was safe to do and something that people frankly needed.”
Something else that was needed for Chaz Peters and Patrick O’Connor were coolers filled with hot water once they came out of the lake.
“The cooler’s saving my life,” said O’Connor. “Otherwise my feet might just fall off.”
He had no idea why he was doing that, but hey whatever works.
Adding it was quite the way to ring in 2022, but will these two be back in 2023?
“No,” said Peters, laughing with a smile that went ear to ear.
So you can cross them off the registration for next time.
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