Jacksonport Polar Bears take the plunge

JACKSONPORT - It must be New Year's Day in Jacksonport.

Hundreds of people braved the cold temperatures to plunge into Lake Michigan.

It's a ritual that began back in 1986 and has grown to include hundreds of swimmers and thousands of spectators.

"The official water temperature is 32 degrees, the official air temperature here on the beach is 24 degrees. Good day for a swim," said Joe Jarosh, Jacksonport Polar Bear.

Joe Jarosh has been the beach's maritime meteorologist for years. He says planning to plunge is simple.

"Probably what we hear most is five words, I will if you will," said Jarosh.

It wasn't hard to find the rookies.

"This is the first time. It's going to be great," said Mitch Custer, Sturgeon Bay.

"I think it's going to be a little cold, but it's not going to be anything I can't handle," said Dave Ponkratz, Green Bay.

"You got to do it once. Otherwise you never lived, bucket list," said Bethany Lent, Fish Creek.

One man wears a tuxedo. J.R. Jarosh has been on the beach since the beginning. A solo swim in 1986 has certainly swelled.

"It's flabbergasting to see who's here, the energy, the music. This has become one of the most hopping beaches north of the Mason-Dixon line," said J.R. Jarosh, Original Jacksonport Polar Bear.

Nearly 500 swimmers were off. Splashing, screaming and reflecting on what they had done.

"It's that time of season, new experiences, 2013. We made it through the apocalypse," said Ponkratz.

"It's just chaotic. You never know what you're going to see here in Jacksonport, Door County. You never know, it's New Year's Day," said Lent.

"It's really a fun, exciting, feel good thing to do to start the New Year, with three, four, five hundred of my closest friends," said J.R. Jarosh.

Friends who came as rookies, left as veterans.

"This was great, you going to do it again? Oh yeah," said Custer.

This is the 27th annual event.

Organizers say they have had swimmers from 23 different states and 3 foreign countries.