Polar plungers play it cool

COEUR d'ALENE — Paul "Torgy" Torgerson has been doing the Polar Bear Plunge 40 years, and he knows what keeps pulling him back.

"Release the old year and bring in the new with a good splash from the lake," he said as he warmed up after diving into Lake Coeur d'Alene on New Year's Day.

Torgerson and about 1,000 men, women and children charged into the 37-degree water on a cloudy 36-degree day.

Most went willingly, but some needed convincing. A few wore costumes, including a pink bunny outfit from "A Christmas Story" movie, a tutu and a banana suit.

Most came out screaming, smiling and sprinting for towels and blankets.

It was year number 14 for Tom Spencer, who was having far too much fun with friends as they bumped fists and stayed in the lake for a few minutes after the crowds had retreated to land.

"It's freezing, as usual," he said.

So why do it?

"Cleanse yourself and get ready for the new year," he said.

The crowd was bigger than usual, stretching a few hundred yards along the shoreline, which longtime, unofficial organizer Chad Bennett attributed to last year's plunge being on a day when it was about zero degrees.

That scared many away.

"This is kind of a make up," he said. "People missed out last year because it was too cold."

Bennett brought his traditional stuffed polar bear, a sign that read, "I can Polar Bear It," and countdown placards as he called out time to the noon plunge every few minutes.

"Fifteen minutes," he yelled at 11:45.

Bennett said he's been doing "easy" three-minute cold plunges at home and was actually looking forward to hanging out in the lake with friends.

"I love it," he said.

Roger Schramm of Spokane was wearing a Santa cap and red sunglasses to go along with his real white beard.

Schramm said he usually plunges at Priest Lake, but their spot there was frozen this year.

"So here we are," he said.

He said he plays Santa Claus during the holidays, so the plunge is a nice way to unwind from the hustle and bustle of the shopping season.

"We got a new year coming," he said. "It's going to be a good one."

Vance Campbell took the plunge for the second time. It wasn't exactly what he called fun, but when family duty calls, he answers.

"It was absolutely freezing," he said.

Ellen Stok moved to Coeur d'Alene last year and missed out on the Polar Bear Plunge to start 2022. She was determined to be there for 2023.

"I want to do it," she told her family.

All went well, but in the frantic first wave, her husband lost track of her in the crowd and missed recording her dive.

"So I said, 'You want me to go back in?' He said, 'If you don't mind.' So I did it again," a smiling Stok said.

"I'm ready to go a third time," she added.

Paul Torgerson said the 2023 dip into Lake Coeur d'Alene was really pretty easy. Too easy. He gave a victorious yell as he fell backward into the water.

"It just seemed a little bit warmer with the weather, or maybe I'm getting used to it," he said, laughing.

His nephew, Cole Oaks, per tradition that began when Oaks was a boy, joined him once again.

"People come down here with family and friends and they get an opportunity to start a new year," Oaks said. "Shock the stuff off of you. That's how I think about it."