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Taking the plunge! Find out where you can kick off the new year with a chilly dip
When it comes to taking the (polar) plunge, everyone has a reason.
Take Scott Tousley, for example. He鈥檚 jumped into the icy waters of Eagle Nest Lake simply for the adrenaline rush that the experience provides.
鈥淧eople do it on the New Year to refresh and renew,鈥� said Tousley, vice president for Friends of Eagle Nest and Cimarron State Parks. 鈥淏ut most of it is like daredevils, like jumping out of a plane. Just saying you did it. That鈥檚 the most people that we get 鈥� just to say they completed it.鈥�
Some do it for the perceived health benefits.
鈥淲e are getting more and more people that are willing to do it because of (the) ice bath craze that is going on,鈥� Tousley said. 鈥淟ast year, we had people jumping in, and we couldn鈥檛 get them out. They were trying to go in there and meditate.鈥�
Others might use the chilly waters as something of a personal proving ground.
鈥淪ometimes, it鈥檚 a dare amongst friends or family members,鈥� said Joe Quintana, aquatic/recreation program supervisor at Sierra Vista Pool, which will host Albuquerque鈥檚 only polar plunge on Jan. 6.
鈥淪ometimes it鈥檚 just something fun to do,鈥� he adds. 鈥淚t just provides a little bit of shock in your life.鈥�
And then, there are those who may do it for any of those reasons, but also for a good cause.
Proceeds for the Duke City version 鈥� officially named Al鈥檅urrr鈥檘uerque Polar Bear Plunge 鈥� primarily will benefit the Shanta Strong Swim Fund, which provides swim lessons for children who otherwise might not be able to afford to take them. An additional 10% goes to benefit the polar bears and penguins at the ABQ BioPark. It costs $40 to jump in the pool or $50 to enter via waterslide, with water temperatures ranging from 40 to 45 degrees.
Taking the plunge! Find out where you can kick off the new year with a chilly dip
鈥淟ast year, we had close to 100 people,鈥� Quintana said. 鈥淲e had a pretty good outcome, and so we鈥檙e hoping for something the same. It鈥檚 been progressively growing year over year. We鈥檙e hoping for a bigger turnout (than) the previous year. It鈥檚 a lot of fun. We give out free snacks, and they get a free towel and hot cocoa as well.鈥�
While the Al鈥檅urrr鈥檘uerque Polar Bear Plunge is entering its fourth year, the Eagle Nest Lake event, located near the town of Eagle Nest, 30 miles east of Taos, debuted in 2009 with 16 polar plungers. Attendance has grown to more than 80 on occasion, and a Polar Stomp 鈥� essentially a snowy hike 鈥� is also an option as part of the festivities. Last year included 50 plungers, 18 viewers and more than 200 spectators for the New Year鈥檚 Day spectacle. The event is hosted by Friends of Eagle Nest Lake and Cimarron Canyon State Parks in conjunction with New Mexico State Parks and attracts participants from all over the country.
鈥淭his is hardcore,鈥� Tousley warns. 鈥淲e have a dive team there and everything just in case somebody does go underneath the ice. It鈥檚 a big deal up here in our small town.鈥�
There is one caveat: The Eagle Nest Lake plunge has been canceled on multiple occasions due to inclement weather.
鈥淲hiteout conditions are the only reason that we cancel it,鈥� Tousley said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just due to the fact that we don鈥檛 want to encourage people to be driving to the event.鈥�
Many polar plunge events are held on Jan. 1, as many attendees view the dive as a new beginning. But in Albuquerque, 鈥淲e understand that on New Year鈥檚 Day a lot of people might have their traditions, so Jan. 6 is the first Saturday of the year, and that鈥檚 how we鈥檝e been hosting it,鈥� Quintana said.
Ultimately, there鈥檚 really no wrong way to take the plunge. It鈥檚 just a matter of mustering up the courage to dive in.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a complete rush,鈥� Tousley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 almost terrifying. You just have to jump. It鈥檚 one of those do-or-die moments.鈥�
