The polar bear dip might not be a big thing for bears, but for humans, even though the cause is a good one, and it might be fun, exhilarating and exciting, mostly it’s just cold.
Really, really cold.
For 20-year-old Julie Saby the shock of her body hitting the frigid water of Sylvan Lake, water that is usually buried under a thick layer of ice, is like getting a needle.
The pain is sharp, intense, and quick. And then it’s over.
“It’s so fast,” said Saby. “The time leading up to it is the worst thing.”
Saby participated in the polar dip with her friend, Jody Hinshaw. The ladies wore borrowed bathing costumes from the ’20s.
Saby, who also participated in the dip in 2011, came home from Edmonton where she is a third-year biology student at the University of Alberta to take part in this year’s jump.
“It’s definitely an adrenalin rush” she said. “And it’s for a good cause.”
Jody Hinshaw has participated in the polar bear dip three times. This year, she said she especially loved her ’20s style bathing suit.
She said she found the water to be colder than ever this year, probably because of the warmer temperatures outside. “The water was pretty chilly,” she said with a laugh. “It’s a shock, the air goes out of your lungs. Actually, there is no experience like it.”
The ladies both jumped to raise money for Community Partners.
Chrystal Belanger, who has participated in the dip for six years, and was jumping for Community Partners and Ronald McDonald House Central Alberta said it is an amazing experience.
“It wakes you up, that’s for sure,” she said. “And raising money for a good cause is an awesome feeling.”
Belanger and Danae Hussey raised the most money through the dip, coming in with $8,311.
This year’s polar bear dip raised $24,346.50 and 41 jumpers participated. The most money, $5779.75 was raised for Community Partners.
Ronald McDonald House Central Alberta was second with $5,311 raised on its behalf. A total of $2,335 was raised for You Can Play, Too, $2,280 for Sylvan Lake Playground Society, $1,851 for KidSport Sylvan Lake.
The Serenity Pet Shelter was the recipient of $1,580 and $1,225.75 was raised for Sylvan Lake Library.
A total of $1,220.50 went to the Central Alberta Women’s Shelter and Sylvan Lake Victim Services netted $1,013.25.
Other groups who received funding included Sylvan Lake Fire Department ($915), Sylvan Lake Junior Curling ($500) and United Way ($335).