Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club member Aurora Jacobi takes a leap and prepares for the icy water below at the club's seventh annual Polar Bear Dip.

Hub Staff

With temperatures around -15 degrees Celsius with the wind chill February 18, 22 members of the Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club (SSLC) donned their bathing suits and bravely plunged into the frigid waters at the Port Elgin Harbour for the seventh annual Polar Bear Dip.

The SSLC tradition that happens Family Day Monday acts as a fundraiser for the club. Although the total raised through the February 18 event was not known at the time of publishing, Saugeen Shores Pool Coordinator Michael Hundt said that this year the funds would be going towards buying new equipment. “We need a little bit of additional equipment on the beach as well as in the pool for training," explained Hundt, making mention of paddle boards, surf skis, and paddles.

“We have a huge group of 14- and 15-year olds and we're looking at additional paddles that actually fit them,” he said. “This is a good way to get that equipment so they can have the optimum training.”

Having participated in the annual event for most of its seven years, Hundt said there was no training that could prepare the athletes for the icy plunge. “You know what you're going to hit. The water, it's cold, no doubt about that, but it's the air that gets you quicker when you come out,” he said. “It's all about just getting dry quickly.”

Hundt said that the Polar Bear plungers were all over 13 years of age. “They're either life saving athletes or members of staff with a bronze medallion or higher,” he said, adding that they had some new athletes participating this year.

One such athlete was Freya Lewis. Lewis lives in Fergus but is a member of the Saugeen Shores club. “I'm freaked out. I don't do well in cold,” Lewis said just before her jump, but added that she had been given plenty of advice from her fellow club members who had experience taking the plunge. “Get in and out as quick as possible and have everything ready for when you get out," she said.

After having spent time prior to the event clearing the jump area of ice, Saugeen Shores firefighters were on hand to ensure participants made it in and out of the water safely at the seventh annual Polar Bear Dip February 18.

Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club (SSLC) participants huddled together in the frigid temperatures as one by one they leapt into the Port Elgin Harbour. 

Natalia Perico was one of the first participants to take the plunge, February 18.

It was a first time jump for Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club members Freya Lewis but despite her aversion to the cold, she took to frigid water with a smile on her face.

After performing a spectacular front flip, SSLC member Braydon Reid plunges into the icy water Family Day weekend for the seventh annual Polar Bear Dip.

With legs out straight and arms by his side, Riley Simpson prepares to hit the frigid waters below February 18.