Hundreds take polar plunge at Milwaukee's lakefront

Hundreds take polar plunge

Hundreds of people took the polar plunge at Milwaukee's lakefront on New Year's Day, an annual tradition at Bradford Beach.

MILWAUKEE - Light snow and freezing temperatures? Thursday's weather was perfect for hundreds of people who took the annual polar plunge at Milwaukee's lakefront.

What they're saying:

The first day of the year marked not only a fresh start but an icy, annual dip at Bradford Beach.

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"Cleanse off all the dirt from last year," said Robyn Rodgers. "It’s a tradition, so they love it. People come out. You meet new people."

While Rodgers was a returning plunger, others, like Milwaukee Ald. Scott Spiker, were first-timers.

Milwaukee Ald. Scott Spiker takes polar plunge

"I’ll be a repeat customer now. I’ll be the welcome committee next year," he said.

The frigid event was a bit of a role reversal for friends Bill Klug and Ben Rodriguez. Klug said they were both head lifeguards at Bradford Beach years ago.

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On Thursday, Klug and Rodriguez traded the sunscreen and beach blankets of their youth for decades of deep dunks and bathing suit bonfires.

"I believe you should do it at least once in your lifetime. It’s a bucket list thing," said Rodriguez.

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Milwaukee lakefront Cool Fool Kite Festival, family fun

The 39th annual Cool Fool Kite & Snow-Carving Festival drew people to Veterans Park at Milwaukee's lakefront on New Year's Day.

The jump isn't just freezing, it's free. There's no cost and very few rules. Participants just try to gather as many people as possibly to jump in together at noon.

There's no prize, just a show of endurance and a shock to the system for people looking to start the new year alert, refreshed and certainly shivering.

Milwaukee Fire Department paramedics were in the water in case anyone needed help.