Polar Plungers Brave The Elements
EXCELSIOR, Minn. (WCCO/AP) -- Jumping into a frozen Lake Minnetonka has become a local tradition, though the Polar Plunge this year happened amid temperatures in the single digits.
Just as they have done for the past 21 years, participants stripped down and jumped in to Lake Minnetonka for a good cause.
Proceeds from the icy dive go to support Camp SuperKids, a special camp for kids with asthma.
Many dressed up, but most wore next to nothing. Quite a few who jumped screamed even before they hopped into the frigid water.
Lake Minnetonka is far from the only frozen body of water into which the stouthearted plunge on New Year's Day. The tradition is practiced as far away as Germany and as nearby as Wisconsin.
One of the next-door state's most popular polar plunges is in Milwaukee in Lake Michigan.
There were also swimmers in Sheboygan and Jacksonport in Door County, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
WCCO-TV Raw Video Of The Plunge
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