Polar Bear Dip sees 10 take the plunge in '10

For some families, it may not seem like the perfect way to ring in the New Year. But for Tammy MacCabe, she admits it isn't all that unusual for her to be spending January 1 wrapping her dripping wet kids and husband up in towels to ensure they don't suffer from frostbite or hypothermia from the plunge they just took in the icy waters of Palmer's Pond.

Although this is the first time the Riverview family has made the trek to Dorchester on New Year's Day to be a part of the village's annual Polar Bear Dip, MacCabe says her husband participated in a similar event in Charlottetown several years ago and her children - six-year-old Jack and 10-year-old Jata - have been itching to do the same.

"Jack wanted to do it last year. That's just how they are," she says of her adventurous family members.

"I just come along for the ride . . . and to catch it all on video."

The trio were among the 10 brave dippers who rang in the New Year in grand style on Friday, plunging into the pond on the outskirts of the tiny village to continue on a tradition that began as a dare between friends back in 1994.

Jack MacCabe, believed to be the youngest dipper ever in the event's 16-year history, didn't have much to say after taking the dip with his dad but, when asked to describe the jump, did manage to utter two simple words (in between chattering teeth) to sum up the experience: "real cold." His sister Jata took the plunge with her nine-year-old friend Sarah Lecoque.

Dad James, who also wind surfs with his kids during the winter season, says he simply couldn't let the opportunity pass him by for another year.

"Plus I had a bit of extra Christmas weight I wanted to show off so that worked out well," he joked.

This year's newcomers were given a quick dipping lesson by experienced veteran jumpers Amy and Andy Partridge, who were the first to plunge into the pond on Friday.

Andy has been participating in the event for 15 years now and has braved a variety of weather conditions, including last year's blizzard that brought blowing snow and frigid temperatures to the region on New Year's Day. But no year was worse than the one that saw the thermometer plunge to -32C, he recalled.

"The wind makes a huge difference," he says.

Mother Nature was merciful to the dippers this year, however, as it was a balmy -3C with only a slight wind when the jumpers stripped down to their swimsuits and plunged into the hole cut into the ice.

But the nippy air can still hit you pretty hard on the way out of the water, according to 24-year-old Josh Cormier, who has made the jump on two other occasions and decided to test out the 'third time is a charm' theory on Friday.

"It sobers you up pretty quick," he says. "It's a crazy way to start the new year."

Fellow dipper David Spence agrees.

"Jumping into the water isn't any worse than the initial shock you feel when you jump into cold water in the summertime; but the biggest difference is that it's not warm when you get out," says Spence, who began making the jump with his father Paul seven years ago and is continuing the family tradition despite his father's decision this year to hang up his swim shorts after 16 years.

Everyone has different reasons for taking part - some do it just for the fun of it, others do it for the challenge and some admit they jump in only because they've been dared.

In fact, the event got its start back in 1994 as a result of a dare by three friends at a New Year's Eve celebration. The next year, those same friends decided it would make a good fundraiser and have been keeping it going ever since, with some help from the local Lions Club as well as members of the Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department, who are on hand as a safety precaution to pull people out of the water when necessary and to keep the spectators off the ice.

This year's Polar Bear Dip not only attracted 10 dippers but also drew more than 100 spectators from throughout the province on Friday afternoon, bringing in several hundred dollars for the Bob Edgett's Boys and Girls Club.

Coach and mentor Bob Edgett, who is always on hand at the event to collect donations, said he is so grateful for the support from the local communities.

"It's been just amazing; all of this is certainly appreciated," says Edgett, who explains that the funds raised go towards ongoing operating expenses of the clubhouse in Sackville.