Baptism by ice: Alaskans make annual plunge into frigid lake

More than a thousand Alaskans took part in a polar plunge fundraiser at Goose Lake, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, in Anchorage, Alaska. The plunge was a benefit for Special Olympics Alaska, and has raised more than $2 million for the organization in the eight years it has been held. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen) More than a thousand Alaskans took part in a polar plunge fundraiser at Goose Lake, Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016, in Anchorage, Alaska. The plunge was a benefit for Special Olympics Alaska, and has raised more than $2 million for the organization in the eight years it has been held. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

By Associated Press December 18, 2016 2 min read

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – More than a thousand people in Alaska dressed up as elves or in other elaborate costumes, while some stripped down to barely anything to take part in a polar plunge.

The fundraiser for Special Olympics Alaska took place Saturday at Goose Lake in Anchorage, where ice was cut from a large portion of the lake to allow the plungers room to do their favorite dive, like a cannonball. Other more timid plungers stepped into the frigid water, and others got a helping hand from fellow jumpers.

“It’s cold,” said David Aromin, a recent transplant from Philadelphia who took part with others from LifeMed Alaska, an air ambulance service.

“It’s for a great cause,” he said of why he spent his morning jumping into 32-degree water. “I’m new to Alaska, and this is one way to be baptized.”

Kat Bant of New York and Brittany Petrikos of Ohio said despite the frigid conditions, the jump “was lots of fun.”