Ice swimming for Special Olympics

With no ice to jump off, participants walked into the crashing waves of Lake Superior for the first polar bear plunge.

Special Olympics Ontario Winter Games and Northern Ontario Polar Bear Plunge held the first icy dip at Lakeview Lodge on Saturday. The event focused on raising money for the Ontario Special Olympic Winter Games scheduled for next year in Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay Police Service and the Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run hosted the event.

Before people went into the water, many were shaking and moving around to keep warm. Some wore t-shirts over bathing suits or wrapped themselves in towels before taking the plunge. About 60 people came to the event.

Danielle Dumont, 30, wrapped herself in her towel before jumping in and said she hoped she froze before walking into Lake Superior.

"I’m a pretty big fan of the Special Olympics," Dumont said. "That is why I am out here doing this. I raised $200 to stand here and jump into the water."

Warren Giertuga, event director for the Northern Ontario Polar Bear Plunge, said he had been trying to organize a polar bear plunge before but never worked out until Saturday.

"This year was the first opportunity to kick off the fundraising year (for the Ontario Special Olympics)", Giertuga said. "Obviously we were hoping to have ice but Mother Nature didn’t cooperate too much."

Traditionally polar bear plunges have people jumping off sheets of ice into a frozen lake. Giertuga said future polar bear plunges might be held earlier in the year to ensure they have ice available.
Giertuga was one of the first people to go into the lake and said the waves were difficult challenge to get past. Before going in, Giertuga said he purposely didn’t test the water so he didn’t know how cold it was.

"We were hoping for 50 or 70 people to come out," he said. "I’m pretty pleased by the level of participation."

The event kicks off the year for fundraising for the Ontario Special Olympics. Dave Mossman, games coordinator for the 2011 Special Olympics Ontario winter Games, said they hoped to raise $10,000 through pledges collected by participants.

Mossman said that the year round fundraising campaign goes towards costs expect at the Ontario Special Olympics in January next year.

More than 300 athletes and 125 coaches across Ontario are expected to participate in six sporting events: curling, speed skating, figure skating, Nordic skiing, alpine skiing and snowshoeing.

"We’re starting early." Mossman said. "Throughout the year we have to raise close to a million dollars through funding and sponsorships. Throughout the year we`ll be doing much more."

Mossman said the next event for the Ontario Special Olympics is in the planning stages. The total amount raised was not readily available.