Centennial Beach in Barrie is no stranger to swimmers, but typically not in January.
Joseph Poltz has been organizing the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Dip for 15 years, telling BarrieToday the event, which he hosts in support of the Barrie Food Bank, Simcoe Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre and the Heart and Stroke Foundation, has only gotten more popular over the years.
Poltz, who said he “dips” every day in the winter, was anticipating about 100 people to take part in today’s event, noting not only is it a lot of fun, it’s also great for your health. Although he acknowledged the cold temperature can “definitely be a huge shock to the system” — especially for first timers — it’s a great way to help reboot your system and energize you.
“You get out, you’re cold and shivering, but when you warm up you feel good,” he said. ““It helps with mental health, it helps your circulatory system, it helps with joint pain and it produces endorphins.”
Poltz noted since starting the annual Polar Bear Dip, participants have always run in the water — with the exception of two years, where the lake had frozen early and he had to poke a hole in the ice.
Seeing the turnout each year, he said, is heartwarming.
“I love the support. It makes me feel good.”
Naina Sharma was one of the many people who came out to brave the cold water for the first time. Prior to entering the water — which was reportedly sitting at a balmy three degrees — Sharma admitted she was feeling a combination of excitement and nervousness.
‘Trying something new is fun,” she exclaimed, while also trying to convince herself not to chicken out.
Celeste Price wasn’t feeling any nerves, noting she “cold dips” daily, and was simply excited to start off a new year with a “great community of people”.
“It’s for a really great cause … and personally it’s just a good way to start the year with a really good goal of continuing to show up for myself and do good things for my body and my mind,” she said. “Initially, the first minute or so is challenging … but eventually, your calm takes over and it’s just really peaceful.”
Mother and son duo Stephanie and Noah Crampton joined forces to brave the cold water, and were feeling extremely proud of seeing it through together.
“We just wanted to try something new,” said Noah, 11. “It was really cold!”
“It’s fun to see everyone coming out to celebrate the new year,” added Stephanie.
Jody Cele told BarrieToday her son convinced her to take part.
“My son has been wanting to do this forever, so I did it with him… It’s freezing! It’s so wrong, but you feel so alive it’s crazy.”
