Polar Bear Plunge at Flora-Bama

From Baby New Year to The King of Rock and Roll. The Polar Bear Dip has become a pilgrimage of sorts. Pat McClellan says, "It's a new year you know. This is the way we bring in a New Year we try to make sure all things from last year are gone. If we successfully come into the water, out of the plunge, then it's been a good year".

Some may find their Superman here and rub his tummy for good luck, while others are just looking for a good time. The thousands gathered on the shore are full of excitement, but, behind those big smiles they're wondering just how frigid the water really is.
Then, the countdown to the plunge is finally on.

"It's head freezing cold. It's like your entire body is like...eeek" says
John Cibulskis. "Oh my gosh, it was freezing" says Lily Neal. Her friend, Joseph Plunkett responds, "The sand is the coldest part actually. The sand is pretty cold on your feet".

As for Yvonne Wilson and her children the waters were.... "Cold...... ..like zero degrees", but they say they'd do it again. Leah Mckinney has taken the plunge for ten years. This year, she's adopting a new resolution, "Never to go to into the ocean in 30 degree weather again!"

The Gulf Coast Polar Bear Plunge is said to be a thirty year tradition that started 30 years ago on Pensacola Beach as a dare between a couple of guys.