| Polar
Plunge sends frigid fanatics into Hyrum Reservoir
DAD FLOATS:
Kaylie and Annica Mayo hang onto their father, Utah
Highway Patrol Sgt. Rick Mayo, after jumping in during
the Polar Plunge at Hyrum State Park. / Photos by
Davis Archibald
|
By Jacob Fullmer
January 23, 2008 | Saturday was like any other
day at the beach at Hyrum Reservoir. A gentle
breeze blew over the snow as a group of ice fishers
pulled plastic sleds loaded with gear. An earlier
group was already cutting holes in the ice or
reclining in camping chairs. A winter day like
any other.
Except, maybe, for two pirates bearing plungers
instead of sabers, a cowgirl wearing a pink three-quarter
length wet suit to match her hat along with a
number of princesses, law enforcement personnel
and other community members outfitted in swim
wear more accustomed to June instead of January.
"You don't have to be crazy to jump in, I guess,
but it helps," said Cache County Sheriff's chief
deputy Dave Bennett of the third annual Special
Olympics Polar Plunge held at Hyrum State Park.
A self-inquiry over sanity seemed to be a common
theme among many of the nearly 140 divers of all
ages and dress jumped through a gaping hole cut
in Hyrum Reservoirs thick ice. Close to $20,000
was donated by family, friends and local businesses
who sponsored plungers willing to dive into the
near freezing water.
"It's really cool," said Sally Rampton, who won
a light saber duel with her husband Jeff before
jumping in. "You don't feel anything." Jeff disagreed.
"Well I feel a lot," he said as he headed for
the large, green changing tents the National Guard
kept warm for participants.
Prizes for categories such as "Best Costume"
and "Most Scantily Clad" varied from an instant
hot shower to a year supply of ice cream. |
FACES OF FANATICS:
Above, Theon Merrill reacts after hitting the
ice-cold water. Below, the 'Plunging Pirates'
jump into the water, and participants swim as
quickly as possible after taking the plunge.
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J.D. Donnelly, president and CEO of Special Olympics
Utah, was on hand to cheer for participants and interview
some of them after their plunge. Special Olympics Utah
hosts three other plunges around the state but this
is "by far" the biggest, he said. He hasn't made the
plunge yet but promises to when any of the plunges raise
over $100,000.
He's not delaying anything for fear of a little cold
water. "Hopefully, it's in the next couple years," he
said. "The sooner the better ."
Donnelly said states with longer established plunges,
such as Maryland, have high class officials such as
the governor jump in and raise over one-million dollars.
"I keep working on it," he said. "One of these years
we'll get him [Governor Jon Huntsman] out."
Danelle Rob, along with five others, committed far
in advance to be Super Plungers. They had to raise over
$1,000 to qualify to plunge every hour on the hour,
for the twenty-four hours leading up to the event.
"They had to earn the right to do this," Donnelly
said of the Super Plungers. "Sounds kind of backwards."
Rob got sick in the middle of the night and had to
take the full body dip five times in a row to make up
for lost jumps.
The team of six consisted mostly of Cache County employee.
Some of them agreed the night jumps were the easiest,
because they couldn't see what they were doing, and
the early morning the hardest, because the day light
helped them see what they forgot.
But after a full day of freezing water, the Super
Plungers confidently took on their challenge.
On Rob's final plunge, for instance, she clapped hard
twice, lightly jumped in and gave a kind "Thank you"
to the person holding her towel as she climbed out onto
the ice.
Compare this to Tom Spillman. Spillman, 18, dressed
in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs, did a flying
spread eagle with his legs just before hitting the water.
Rushing out of the black liquid, he screamed, "This
blows!" as he ran to the changing tents.
Vicki Hedstrom of Hyrum allowed two of her children
to participate in the event with some friends because
of the fund raiser's purpose.
"I thought it was a good deal and that's why I let
them do it," she said. "They'll remember it."
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