Polar Bear Swim to feature 'Pastoral Plunge'

GAINESVILLE - The 9th Annual Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club Polar Bear Swim Saturday in Lake Lanier will feature the first Pastoral Plunge.

Father Vincent Sullivan from St. Michael's Catholic Church in Gainesville and Dr. Bill Coates from First Baptist on Green Street and perhaps four other ministers plan to plunge into the cold water in unison. In addition, Gainesville Mayor George Wangemann will be jumping again; he has not missed a single event.

Registration will start at 1:00 at the Lake Lanier Olympic Center at Clarks Bridge Park.

The festivities will start with a torch run by Olympic Legacy athletes and the lighting of the Polar Bear Olympic Cauldron at 2:00. The jumping will start at just after that.

"We will award prizes for the Best Costume and Best Jump...," said the club's executive director, Connie Hagler. "We will recognize the oldest and youngest jumpers as well as those who have traveled the farthest, have the most interesting stories and who are repeat jumpers. Three levels of jumping platforms, decorated in 1996 Olympic memorabilia, will provide opportunity to give height to the gleeful plunges into Lake Lanier."

Softub is providing four hot tubs for soaking after each swim and LCKC members will be serving chili, hot chocolate and coffee.

Each jumper will make a $25 contribution to benefit the Lanier Olympic legacy program. Even if you don't jump, you can support the program with a $25 contribution and still get a T-shirt and a turn in a hot tub.