CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The 23nd Annual Chicago Polar Plunge happened March 5 at North Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan, Chicago. The Polar Plunge benefits the thousands of local athletes in the Special Olympics Chicago / Special Children’s Charities program.

Polar Plunge 2023 by Paul Sager, on Flickr


All funds raised benefit the over 7500 Special Olympics Chicago athletes, covering program costs such as transportation, sports equipment, team uniforms, and meals.

Polar Plunge 2023


About 4,000 people participated in the Polar Plunge 2023 in Chicago.

Polar Plunge 2023


The Polar Plunge aimed to raise $2 million by Plunge Day. Each participant was responsible to raise $200. They hit 103% of the goal, achieving $66,600 over the $2 million goal.

Polar Plunge 2023


Besides North Avenue Beach in Chicago, there were people taking the plunge at 24 other locations throughout Illinois in March.

Polar Plunge 2023


In 2020, the Polar Plunge was one of the last major events the city hosted before the COVID-19 outbreak brought life to a standstill. The 2021 event was held virtually due to the pandemic, though some participants still took a dip in Lake Michigan. I was there at the lake for both 2022 and 2023, only with camera, no swim suit.

Polar Plunge 2023


The official reading for the lake water was 42F, relatively warm for the typical March temperatures in Chicago.

Polar Plunge 2023


Air temps were in the upper 30s, with wonderful sunshine and not much wind. Smiles, cheering and the cause kept participants going.

Polar Plunge 2023


Cast and crew from the “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Fire” television shows participated in the 2023 Plunge.

Polar Plunge 2023


All images were captured in RAW from an EOS 5D III and the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM. Processing was performed in Adobe Lightroom 6. The title of each image is a URL link to the host Flickr page for the EXIF details of each image.

Polar Plunge 2023


Although not a 'frigid face', I did find my mug in another photographer's portfolio from that weekend.

Polar Plunge 2023

13 Loc: I am only responsible to what I say..not what

Mouths wide opened.... must be a shock! Nice shots!!!

tradio Loc: Oxford, Ohio

That's a great set and it looks like fun was had by all.

W9OD Loc: Wisconsin

Great set! Fun to see CRAZY PEOPLE do crazy things. In WI they cut the ice away from shore and have their Polar Plunge on New Years Day. Crazy. Thank you for sharing.

Jbravi

Paul, as usual, is a great series. Thank you for sharing.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Brave group! There is nothing I hate more than cold water!

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

How come you don't have pics of the casts and crews??? I like those shows. I've read that practically freezing yourself to death like that is GOOD for you. Well GOOD for them. LOL

JD750 Loc: SoCal

That’s great work!! Lots of emotional content in those photos. 👍

foodie65

Paul, did your camera get wet when you took the plunge?🤭🤭🤭

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Great people series, Paul.

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

I just turned the heat up a couple of degrees, Paul.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you W9OD! We have another plunge in January at another beach closer to the loop. I haven't been to that one, but it's more likely to need cutting into the ice to reach the water.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you foathog! The two shows went into the water, just after our outgoing Mayor Lori Lightroom. I didn't see any of my favorites from Chicago PD, but the sun was in my eyes at that point and the crowd was a lot thicker than later in the morning. It wasn't until editing later that I realized I even had pictures of them, an image I have scheduled in another post later this week in an group of images around another theme.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you 13, tradio, W9OD, Jbravi, Gary, foathog, JD750, foodie65, Earnest, Ray! Last year was my first, and I didn't fully know what to expect. This year I was there early, only to find I was on the south side of the event, but the TV shows and politicians were going into the water only on the north. Regular folks were on both north and south sides of the center stage. I was there from the first person to the last, but in a good viewing position only later in the morning. Glad you enjoyed.

Stephan G

Thank you for your images.

I will have to say that during my growing years, the Polar Bear Club was not as large as the group doing the "plunges". I used to go out and swim off Oak St. Beach around the mid April. When I started getting to feel cold, I would submerge into the water about six inches and warm up in the warmer clime, then come to the surface to swim on. The air still had its bite at that time. One thing, I did not have to swim through the crowd.