Hundreds Flock To Lake Minnetonka For Icy New Year's Dive
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Frigid temperatures didn't keep hundreds of people from jumping into a very cold Lake Minnetonka this morning as part of a New Year's Day tradition called the ALARC Ice Dive.
More than 700 people took park in Thursday morning's dive.
The founder of the event, Bill Wenmark, had the flu this year. This year would have been his 25th jump, but he didn't want to miss out on the fun altogether, so he took a different approach. Someone poured ice cold lake water over his head.
People say they look forward to this event every year. They say it's a great way to start 2015.
There was also a woman from India who is visiting family, and she jumped into the lake.
The ice dive is set up to reward repeat participants. First-timers are tagged "guppies," and with each progressive dive you move up the food chain, so to speak. Guppies become minnows, minnows become walleyes, and so on. After 10 jumps, you're a shark. After 20, you're an orca, which is the top ranking.