Illustration by Julia Pott
The ancient Romans, those notorious pleasure-seekers, used to hang out at public baths, dipping their toes in the chilly frigidarium. Today, we have the Polar Plunge, during which brave souls dunk their parts into freezing lakes for bracing thrills—and to raise money for Special Olympics athletes. Here’s how to do it without becoming a popsicle.
Getting Started: Once you register online, it only takes $75 in pledges to take part in the Polar Plunge. But tell your friends, relatives, coworkers, and frenemies to donate in your name, so you can raise a heap of cash.
What to Bring: Your swimsuit, towels, dry clothes to change into, and a costume. “I’ve seen people dressed as a pack of Dalmatians, as superheroes, as playing cards,’” says Jocelyn Diehl, the organization’s St. Louis metro area director.
Where and When: There are 13 bodies of water in Missouri that offer Polar Plunges on Saturdays this month, including Lake Saint Louis (February 2) and Creve Coeur Lake (February 23).
How to Plunge: Ten people go in at a time, so assemble your gang and prepare to bond. How deep you go is up to you. Some people (wimps) are ankle people. Some go all the way under for a baptism by ice. Regardless, after less than a minute, everyone comes back to shore. EMTs on-site make sure you stay healthy.
Get Super: For those seeking even greater (and colder) thrills, the Super Plunge is a 24-hour marathon, during which brave souls enter a frigid lake once an hour, every hour. Trish Lutz, who works at Special Olympics Missouri headquarters in Jefferson City, has done a Super Plunge and says the trick to survival is “putting Vaseline on your legs, arms, and feet, so the water just rolls off.”
What to Do Afterward: Have some cocoa and a hot dog. Play carnival games set up on the beach. Feel good about supporting the approximately 15,250 Special Olympics athletes in Missouri.
