About 65 people rang in the New Year on Friday by plunging into the nippy waters of the Ridglea Country Club's outdoor swimming pool as part of the Polar Bear Challenge. The event was organized by the aptly named Chuck Burr, director of aquatics for the country club. The participants were mostly students in Burr's adult masters swimming class and their families.

When he started planning the event in September, Burr expected fewer than 10 people to participate. He was stunned to see dozens pay $12 to $15 to take part, he said.

Right before the swim, Burr told the crowd that the pool's temperature had risen to 49 degrees. Unfortunately, the commemorative T-shirts he had ordered the day before said 48 degrees.

The group groaned as he dumped a bag of ice into the pool. According to the National Weather Service, the temperature at the time was a balmy 70 degrees.

Carl Storrie, 25, of Fort Worth said he was surprised by how hard the cold water hit him.

"I put my foot in first, but that doesn't get you ready for when your head goes under," he said.

A blue-lipped Nicholas Boudreaux, 8, of Fort Worth said the polar bear encounter taught him a valuable lesson.

"If it's below 70, I'm never getting in the water," he said.

Aman Batheja, (817) 390-7752
abatheja@star-telegram.com