This Winter Carnival, I will not participate in any ski races (cross country or alpine), nor will be I partake in the human dogsled. Similarly to previous years, however, I may be participating in the polar bear swim, a tradition that has been around for as long as there have been polar bears.
While not a sport per se, the polar bear swim involves swimming, with the added challenge of slightly chillier water than those which our Big Green aqua athletes compete. Sure, there's no race, but you get the thrill of plunging into the icy depths of Occom Pond.
The oldest Polar Bear Club in North America is the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, which was founded in 1903. Bernarr Macfadden, who was a strong believer in the restorative power of winter swimming, founded the club for others like himself. Some might call him crazy, but I think his sense of adventure would have fit in well at Dartmouth.
The history of the polar bear swim at Dartmouth is a tad shorter. Apparently it was started by Rachel Gilliar '98 during her freshman Fall when she decided to take a chainsaw down to Occom Pond and then just jump in. By Gilliar's senior year, Martha Stewart had donated buttons and towels to the first 200 participants. Understandably, the polar bear swim is a bit more controlled now, monitored by Safety and Security and Dartmouth EMTs, and the ice is examined to make sure it is thick enough (it was not as recently as three years ago).
That may take away from some of the thrill, but at least you won't die. That's a plus. Is it a net gain? You will have to decide that one for yourself.
I was fortunate enough to take part in the polar bear swim for the first time two years ago. As one would expect, it is quite chilly but it is over before you know it and at no point do you feel remotely unsafe. But you still get the thrill of jumping into frigid water while surrounded in ice. For a few brief moments, you feel like a polar bear.
You are left slightly frozen for a short period but it is nothing a warm shower cannot fix.
Many people still refrain from participating, however, for various reasons. When asked whether she would ever consider doing the polar bear swim, Lauren Penneys '08 replied, "Ha, NEVER. I am from Miami."
Another '08 female responded, "No way. I think maybe freshman year it was appealing for about three seconds, but considering all the other things I was deluded about freshman year, I wouldn't classify myself as having the best judgment."
Further reasons given by this jaded senior included, "There is a reason people don't go swimming in February," and "swimming during any season should not require a drill or a safety rope."
Miles Kenyon '10 from Oakland Park, Florida, had this to say: "No, I wouldn't. Because the water is really (expletive deleted) cold."
Jessie Long '08 from Massachusetts, responded, "I would [do it] this year, just to say I've done it, but I'm too scared to be that cold."
One person surveyed had already participated but did it with a group of friends from her sports team. She said, "I guess I did it for the pin?"
Those who do not want to participate also said that oftentimes people don't want to participate because they are hungover or sleeping in (or both) on the Friday of Winter Carnival.
The walk to Occom Pond, in combination with these other factors, was also mentioned. I contest many of these reasons. Though it would probably be more enjoyable with Rachel Gilliar's chainsaw, the College is not going to condone that -- Risk Management would have a heart attack.
For those worthy souls who enjoy the adrenaline rush, swimming in February is the draw, not the drawback.
Many of the people who blitzed me back were different types of risk takers (not the type to go swimming in February).
For those who do not participate in the polar bear swim, however, not only do they not get a pin, but when they leave Dartmouth and are left with only memories, this one will be missing. Don't let the polar bear swim be on your list of things you never did.
