TODAY’S COLD TEMPERATURES MADE THIS YEAR’S 17TH ANNUAL POLAR BEAR DIP AT SOUTH PADRE ISLAND MORE THAN IDEAL FOR THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE READY TO KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR BY BRAVING THE COLD WATERS. “NOW THIS IS NUMBER 17, STARTED AS AN OLD PARTY AND NOW LOOK AT IT.. IT HAS GOTTEN BIGGER,” SAYS POLAR BEAR DIP CO-FOUNDER GREG MORRISON. “EVERYONE IS RUNNING INTO THE WATER SMILING, TO PUT A SMILE ON SOMEONE’S FACE AT THE BEGINNING OF A YEAR, IS A GOOD THING,” ADDED CO-FOUNDER BLAINE MCCULLOUGH.

THE REACTIONS? “IT WAS FREEZING, I CAN’T FEEL MY LEGS! ARE YOU COMING BACK NEXT YEAR? OH YEAH!” SAID PARTICIPANT FROM RICHMOND, TEXAS, BRIANNA GONZALEZ. ANOTHER TWO FEELING THE FREEZING COLD BUT STILL READY TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR WERE FATHER AND DAUGHTER FROM THE VALLEY, ALEXANDRA AND LEO. FOR THE MOST PART, PEOPLE HAVE REASON TO DO IT AGAIN. AND THAT INCUDES NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGIST BARRY GOLDSMITH.

“IT’S MY 3RD YEAR IN A ROW, I REALLY WANTED TO CHALLENGE MYSELF. LAST YEAR WAS 55 THIS YEAR IS 45, MAYBE THIS IS THE COLDEST ONE EVER. WE HAVE TO CHECK THE DATA,” SAID GOLDSMITH. WHILE OTHERS. “BECAUSE IT’S CRAZY! WE WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE CRAZY BUT WE COULDN’T FIND IT SO WE DECIDED FOR THIS. IT WAS AWESOME! I WAS FREEZING COLD!” ADDS A JOINT GROUP OF PARTICIPANTS FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

BUT IF YOU ARE NOT CONVINCED, YOU MAY WANT TO LISTEN TO WHAT THESE HOUSTONIANS HAVE TO SAY. “DO IT DO IT, IT’S FUN! IT’S A GOOD WAY TO BRING THE NEW YEAR. IT’S NOT AS BAD AS YOU THINK. WHAT’S LIFE WITHOUT A LITTLE ADVENTURE. YEAH, JUST DO IT! ONCE YOU GET OUT, YOU DON’T FEEL THE COLD ANYMORE.”

ACCORDING TO THE ORGANIZERS THERE WERE ABOUT 600 PEOPLE TODAY TO BRAVE THOSE COLD WATERS AND THAT EVEN INCLUDED SOME ANIMALS. THIS YEAR’S POLAR BEAR DIP WATER TEMPERATURE WAS 59 DEGREES WHILE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 45. BUT ACCORDING TO METEOROLOGIST BARRY GOLDSMITH, THE WINDS MADE IT FEEL LIKE 38 DEGREES.