Hub Staff

Colder temperatures than we've seen lately are expected as the week progresses, just in time for Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club’s (SSLC) 2016 Annual Polar Bear Dip.

Senior members of SSLC will brave the cold waters of Lake Huron and take the plunge for the 4th annual event, on Family Day, Monday, February 15 at 10:00 a.m. at the Port Elgin Main Beach.

The event raises funds for club equipment and local drowning prevention. “A lot of the drowning prevention pieces go towards our Swim to Survive program, which brings in kids to do drowning prevention methods right in the pool,” explained Saugeen Shores Aquatics Supervisor, Shanna Reid, who will be taking part in the Polar Bear Dip for the first time year.

Saugeen Shores Aquatics Programmer, Michael Hundt, who has taken part in all of the club's dips and will be doing so again this year, said that with the colder temperatures coming, he didn't think the water would be any warmer than previous years. “If we get a cold spell it's not going to be any nicer than any other year,” he said.

Hundt said he will be checking conditions down at the beach later this week. “We've had two years where we've run in off the beach, we've had one year where we've dug a hole and jumped through the ice onto a sand bar,” he said. “I have a feeling that we'll be doing a bit of a run in this year.”

Currently it's only the life saving club's members who participate in the Dip. “We haven't expanded it to the general public yet, maybe year five.” He explained that the reason was mostly to do with safety. “With a smaller controlled group it's a little bit easier with safety and how everything's going to play out but with a big group it can get a little bit more hectic.”

Hundt said that in past years the Polar Bear Dip has taken place at the start of the new year but a few of the club's members were away at training camps so the event was delayed slightly so they could participate.

There are approximately eight to 12 members who take part each year and they have raised between $700 and $3,000 each year. “The community is always a great support,” said Hundt, adding that it's a pretty quick event. “They run in, splash around and get out.”

Currently the athletes for this year are McLean Reid, Carlin Reid, Tyler Donaldson, Madison Ashton, Katie Stoner, Karen Gill, Michael Hundt and Shanna Reid, although Hundt said there could be a few more by the end of the week.

Pledges can be made to the club at both the Centennial Pool and the Saugeen Shores town office. If it's a particular athlete you wish to pledge, let staff know and they will ad it to their pledge sheet.