Sunday, 1/1/1995

A pre-event article appears on page B6 of the Post-Star on 1/1/95.

Club will attempt to 'bear' icy waters
By Fred Daley
Staff Writer

Don't let a little cold scare you, it's a great day to hit the beach
at Lake George.

At 1 pm today, a crowd of diehard beach bums - people who apparently
didn't get the message that summer's over - will don their swimsuits
and plunge into the lake at Shepard Park.

In an event that has become a local New Year's Day tradition,
members of the Lake George Polar Club will brave the icy waters for
a few seconds, then hop out, dry themselves off and head for a
warmer climate, presumably indoors.

You don't need to be a club member to take the plunge, though.
Anyone can bring their swim gear and join in.

Or just watch, if you prefer.

Charles Albert, a Lake George resident who started the annual New
Year's swim meet back in 1981, said last week that the event has
steadily grown from the handful of swimmers who showed up the first
year.

In each of the past few years, more than 100 people have started
their new year with a dip in Lake George. And this year, the
particpants are expected to include at least two beauty queens and
five radio disc jockyes, among other celebrities, Albert said.

Of course the idea of swimming outdoors in Januray might strike some
people as a recipe for hypothermia.

Those people should relax. Maybe they need a cool dip to refresh
their attitude.

"I've been doing it for 25 years, and no one's ever gotten sick,"
Albert said. "So don't let anybody tell you that you can get
hypothermia by taking a little dip in the water."

Albert, who has earned the nickname "Papa Bear" among his fellow
polar swimmers, even boasts that he once took his New Year's Day
plunge while suffering from pneumonia.

And Paul Vinsel, an emergency room physician at Glens Falls
Hospital, said winter swimming poses little risk for most people -
at least the way the Polar Club does it.

"If you're going into water that's 33 or 34 degrees, you probably
have about 15 minutes before your body temperature gets lowered to
the point where you could die from it," Vinsel said. "So if you're
just jumping in and jumping out after a few seconds the way they do,
it's probably not dangerous - at least for an otherwise healthy
person."

Vinsel said anyone with a history of heart disease, hypertension or
diabetes should probably skip today's swim meet, and both he and
Albert said particpants should avoid drinking alcohol before they
head for the beach.

Other than that, there aren't any special preparations or
precautions for New Year's Day swimmers. Albert said anyone who
wants to join in should bring a swimsuit, a towel and a pair of old
sneakers to protect the feet from stones or the beach.


A small picture and blurb appears at the top of the Post-Star's
front page on Monday, 1/2/95. The blurb reads: Lake George: More
than 70 swimmers challenged the chilly waters of Lake George at
Sunday's 14th annual New Year's polar bear swim. B1.

The picture, taken by Teri Currie, on page B1 is blurry, but shows a
group of people in the water near the Shepard Park pier. It's
caption reads: Beach bathers make a big splash in Lake George during
the 14th annual New Year's Day swim.

Water chilly, but not too cold for dippers
By Michelle Matteson
Special to The Post-Star

Lake George - After walking out of the chilly water of Lake George
and signing off the air on WJJR, disc jockey Terry Jaye had one
thing to say: "These people are crazy!"

Jaye conducted a live radio broadcast from the lake using a mobile
hone during Sunday's 14th annual New Year's swim in Lake George.

"When people say it's not that bad, they're lying. That lake is cold
even in the summer," Jaye said, dripping on the sand.

Charlie Albert, the founder of the swim, said he was pleased with
Sunday's turnout of more than 70 swimmers.

"This year wasn't as big due to the crazy weather. A lot of people
who wanted to come from Albany, for example, probably couldn't. But
with these conditions, I'm happier than heck with the numbers that
did come," Albert said.

Jurgen Claus, 21, came all the way from Belgium for the annual swim.
Claus is actually part of an advance team for Up With People, an
international performing group.

Claus, used to a more mild climate, said he read about the event in
The Post-Star and decided to particpate in the challenge partly so
he could send a photograph home to his family.

"I thought it would be worse than it actually was. I took a cold
shower this morning to prepare for it, but I'm OK. I could go for
some hot coffee, though," Claus said.

A group of five 21- and 22-year-olds, clad in shorts and T-shirts,
kicked around a soccer ball on the beach before taking the plunge.
They graduated together from South Glens Falls High School, and each
explained a method to the madness.

"It's the only time we get to play soccer," Dave Renfroe said.

"We all go to different schools now, so it's one of the only ways we
can get together again," Eric Young said.

"I'm actually hoping to get on TV so some movie producer will see
me," Jimmy Newell said, laughing.

Young was the first to run into the water, while Newell got
acrobatic and jumped off the dock.

Returning to shore, Mike Prutsman said the water "wasn't that bad,"
but Dan Forth said he was ready to go inside and warm up.

A shivering Dione Lee Robinson, Miss New York, asked to change out
of her wet socks and sneakers before speaking with a reporter.

"After I got over the initial shock it was OK, but it seemed colder
than last year because the air temperature is warmer this year," the
22-year-old Robinson said after putting sweatpants and a sweatshirt
on over her bathing suit.

When Jaye asked Robinson during his broadcast why she didn't go
farther into the water, the Wilton resident laughed and answered, "I
couldn't get sash or my crown wet."

Beth Graves, Miss Teen World of Beauty 1994, used the same excuse
when asked the same question. The 15-year-old Fort Ann resident said
she never thought she'd spend her New Year with the Lake George
Polar Club.

"A lot of my friends said I was crazy for doing this, but the whole
thing was pretty exciting. It was very cold, but it ws also a lot of
fun," Graves said after changing into a warm jogging suits.