Not-So-Polar Plunge Kicks Off 2016

Although, starting off a new year with running into freezing cold water is much more eventful. Why would people do this? Mainly, the anticipation of good luck for the coming days is enough to get you diving in. People have been participating in this event for years in a row, although others gave it a first try today!

People had different reasons for doing this. Ranging from Whisper Meacham saying, “I want to be a shark!” to her mother, Kim, believing it brings “good luck and weirdness.”

This year, the Ocracoke New Year's Day Polar Plunge had over forty participants. Asking around, we heard that on its first year in 2011, there were only half a dozen people who ran in.

Jason Wells took lead of the event this year. He said that this was simply “a good way to wash away 2015 and start 2016” and that this was why he chose to be in charge.

This year was highly different from last year. Last year, people had to run out as quick as they ran in due to the water’s cold temperature. However, this year with water temps in the 60's, parents had to literally go in and drag their kids from the water. The last people exited about ten or more minutes after running in.

On the topic of children, this year over half of the participants were children, and by the looks and sounds of it they had the most fun.

Lots of people who participated before said it was definitely not as cold as last year. Even the people who didn’t go in the water claimed it was still fun to just watch and see reactions.

Whether or not you participated in this year’s Polar Plunge at Ocracoke's Airport Beach, there is always next year to rinse and repeat!