Ring in 2013 with an Icy Swim in Lake Minnetonka

Hundreds of brave Minnesotans will ring in 2013 with a Jan. 1 dip in the icy waters of Lake Minnetonka.

The annual ALARC Ice Dive will once again take place at the Bayview Event Center in Excelsior and give jumpers an option to help raise money for a variety of local charities and nonprofits—including Minnetonka High School students and both boy’s and girl’s hockey teams from Benilde St. Margaret’s.

The major beneficiary of this year’s jump will be “The Semper Fi Fund,” which provides immediate financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. 

Registration for this year's ice jump must be completed by Dec. 31. Cost to jump is $25 plus tax, and $30 for those registering on jump day. Commemorative ice dive shirts will be available for $15, as will stocking caps and photos of jumps.

A costume contest, judged on originality and attention grabbing components, will reward two creative jumpers with $50 gift certificates to the Bayside Grill, and all participants can enjoy a hot breakfast burrito and coffee for an extra $5.

More than 900 jumpers, hailing from as far away as Colombia, participated in last year’s event.

Tim from Minnetonka had the 2012 ice jump circled on his calendar for months.

“I asked my girlfriend to marry me just before we jumped,” he said last year after being helped from his icy swim by EMS and fire crews. “I’d been planning it since October. She said yes. We’ll be back.”

For Stacy Vystrom, the annual jump is about family.

“My dad couldn’t be here this year because of health reasons, so I jumped for him,” she said after her 2012 dip. “I filled this little bottle of water and am going to give it to him this afternoon as a get well present.”

Those planning on jumping into Lake Minnetonka during this year’s ice dive can register online.

Stay up to date on this year’s ice jump by following ALARAC on Twitter and by "liking" their Facebook page.