Polar plunge draws about 100 this year
It is an event that has grown quite a bit in a quarter of a century, but when you hear about it you have to wonder why. Polar Bear plunges take place all over, but one is gaining popularity on the South Coast.
New Year's morning, about a hundred or so gave temporary leave of their senses and plunged into the frigid waters off the Oregon Coast.
Folks from ages 8 to 80 gathered at Sunset Beach State Park to celebrate the start of 2012 by submerging in the chilly waters.
It is a far cry from the five people who gathered there for the first time 27 years ago.
Dr. Kent Sharman was one of those first brave souls who, he says, were just picking up on something a group of folks in San Francisco were doing. "Now we're up to 90, 100 people. It's all about tradition. It's all about kind of starting anew."
The plunge took place promptly at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, with most of the plungers back out of the water a few minutes later. Gathering to be sprayed down by a hot-water truck in the parking lot.
New Year's morning, about a hundred or so gave temporary leave of their senses and plunged into the frigid waters off the Oregon Coast.
Folks from ages 8 to 80 gathered at Sunset Beach State Park to celebrate the start of 2012 by submerging in the chilly waters.
It is a far cry from the five people who gathered there for the first time 27 years ago.
Dr. Kent Sharman was one of those first brave souls who, he says, were just picking up on something a group of folks in San Francisco were doing. "Now we're up to 90, 100 people. It's all about tradition. It's all about kind of starting anew."
The plunge took place promptly at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, with most of the plungers back out of the water a few minutes later. Gathering to be sprayed down by a hot-water truck in the parking lot.
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