Thousands brave cold to take part in annual Polar Plunge

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- New Year's Day is about plunging into another year for many in Milwaukee. The annual Polar Bear Plunge brings out thousands to the lakefront to jump into the freezing waters. 

It's a tradition now, for a lot of friends and families going back decades. 

"This is my 41st New Year in a row," said Mike Niemon. "41st consecutive." 

Niemon, who was jumping with thousands of others at Bradford Beach Thursday, says it's not a Polar Bear Plunge unless he goes all the way under water.

"That's what counts. You can't just go in there, you've got to go down, because that's a whole nother experience," said Niemon. 

Keith Kalberer was also spending a lot of time at Bradford Beach 40 years ago. He was the head lifeguard, which would start his career with Milwaukee County Parks. 

"Forty years ago, and probably 40 pounds ago and certainly more than 40 degrees colder then when I walked the beach here," said Kalberer. "I figured 'hey, let's bookend the 40-year anniversary with a plunge in 2025." 

This is Kalberer's second year plunging at Bradford Beach. Maybe the start of a tradition like many other groups who take to the beach and the cold waters. 

"It's the best way to bring in a New Year," said Josh Rauen. "It's symbolic and also therapeutic because I ran a 10k yesterday." 

People came out in cheese heads, cow cloaks, swimsuits and knit hats to plunge into the 37 degree waters on Lake Michigan to start 2025.