Big Bear Today March 2019

Page 12—March 2019
`Freezin’ for reason’ at Polar Plunge
“Freezin’ for a Reason,” the 7th annual
Polar Plunge into Big Bear Lake, returns
March 2 with participants getting wet
somehow, some way for a good cause.
Brazen swimmers have a “License to
Chill” as they run, walk or dance into the
lake at Veterans Park, where they can expect
water temperatures in the 30’s as they
raise money for Inland Empire Region’s
Special Olympics of Southern California.
Take a dripping to raise money for
Special Olympics. Big Bear’s event has become
one of the region’s largest and most
popular, annually attracting hundreds of
plungers who raise $100,000 or more each
year. Plungers decide how long they stay
in the water, whether it’s the lake or a hose.
Some only get their ankles wet while others
swim around till lifeguards make them
get out of the water. Portable hot spas apres
plunge help ward off the chill.
Participants pay for the privilege, with
those raising at least $50 in pledges from
family, friends and coworkers receiving an
official Polar Plunge longsleeve T-shirt,
goody bag, lunch and 2-for-1 lift ticket at
Snow Summit and Bear Mountain.
Raise more than $50 and there’s additional
cool prizes like towels, hoodies,
duffle bags with tumbler and solar backpack.
Special Olympics supporters who
prefer to stay out of the water can stay in
the “chicken coop” for $50 in pledges and
receive a “I’m Too Chicken to Plunge” T-
shirt along with the other goodies.
Be sure to bring cameras along for
photos and video to prove you really got
wet during winter months. Costumes are a
staple at Polar Plunge events, almost like
Halloween, and awards are given for the
best, judged by creativity and how wacky
they are. Celebrity chef Duff Goldman,
“Ace of Cakes,” will be on hand too.
“All it takes is a few seconds in the
chilly water for plungers to discover why
we refer to it as `Freezin’ for a Reason,’ ”
said Special Olympics Southern California
regional director Abbey Leffler. “They
will immediately feel their hearts warm up
with joy because they know they are giving
to a great cause. Eighty six cents of
every dollar raised goes directly to Special
Olympics program costs.”
Opening ceremonies at 11:45 a.m. include
a special torch arrival by the San Bernardino
Co. Sheriff’s Department. Other
Polar Plunge activities include family fun
area with games, rock wall (weather permitting),
arts and crafts, entertainment, displays
from law enforcement and Big Bear
Discovery Center, and more.
Register at Veteran’s Park at 10 a.m.
with coffee and pastries with plungers
jumping in at noon. Admission for spectators
is free and they can purchase lunch
for $5. Don’t miss the preregistration
Plunge Party March 1 at Wolf Creek Wine
Room (41421 Big Bear Blvd.) from 6-10
p.m. There’s music, hors d’oeuvres, raffle
and the chance to meet local Special Olympics
athletes. Admission is free for plungers,
$10 for their guests.
Register as a plunger by calling (951)
703-6502 or www.sosc.org/bigbearplunge.
New Soaring Eagle at Alpine Slide takes guests on a 500’ flight in the sky
Sled, Soar, Slide...
Continued from page 11
exhilarating as the descent. Soaring Eagle
costs $12 per rider.
Alpine Slide’s inner tubing hill, a family
favorite for years, is a winter wonderland
after tons of natural snow and
snowmaking. The area’s ski resort quality
Lenko snowguns have made an amazing
amount of snow plus storms have combined
to build depths of 20 feet or more.
There’s an enclosed 210-foot long
Magic Carpet uphill lift to take guests and
their tubes to the top of all that snow—just
step on and step off! Nightly grooming just
like at the ski resorts ensures smooth tubing
on perfect corduroy snow.
Tubing under the stars was introduced
at Alpine Slide years ago and has become
wildly popular.. Guests love sliding on
snow that gets another fresh grooming after
the day session. There’s new glow lighting
and the snow gets faster and faster as
the evening progresses.
Tubing is offered daily from 10 a.m.-
4 p.m. with night sessions Fridays, Saturdays
and holidays (including Feb. 17 )
from 5-9 p.m. Lift passes are $35 and include
inner tube rental.
And what do Sled, Soar, Slide all have
in common? Each serves up the ultimate
Go Pro moment as guests with cameras
capture amazing selfies and videos.
Alpine Slide is at 800 Wildrose Ln.
Call (909) 866-4626.
Providing the most accurate & detailed snow forecasts available on the net
for Big Bear and the local southern California mountains since 1998
www.snowforecast.com/BearMountainResort
www.snowforecast.com/SnowSummitMountainResort
Become a Fan on FaceBook and
WIN STUFF for the 2010 / 11 season @
www.facebook.com/snowforecast.comom