JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — More than 800 people made their way out to Jax Beach this year to take part in the 40th annual Polar Plunge, despite the chilly temperatures.
"I’m just excited about the experience," Kris Jackson said.
Some came in costumes like Lori Hooper dressed as an inflatable unicorn.
"It takes a lot to get the spirit to inflate and once the spirit takes you, you want to stay inflated so there’s that challenge going in and potentially knowing you can lose your inflation factor," Hooper said.
Others wore their favorite swimsuits.
But no matter what they were wearing, after hitting the water most agreed on one thing.
"It was cold," Avery Duncan said.
"This is the coldest one," Suzanne Balog said.
"It was freezing," Riley McGuire said.
Our First Alert Weather team said when the Polar Plunge kicked off a 9 a.m., it was 50 degrees at the beach, but over in the water it was actually 10 degrees warmer.
"I left my furs on the shore, went in and took a big plunge, enjoyed it, said one man dressed as a viking.
For many this year was their first Polar Plunge, for others it’s a family tradition.
“I’ve been doing it for about 8 years now and don’t miss one,” Tim Balog said.