Want to jump into the New Year? Here are five polar plunges around the state

Polar plunge aficionados in the Land of Enchantment aren’t lacking for options.

In fact, with a little bit of planning and timing, it’s possible for willing parties to take the chilly leap as many as three times within the span of just over a month — it’s just a matter of how much cold one’s body is willing to endure.

Though many of these types of events are held on New Year’s Day, those in the Duke City can enjoy their holiday plans on Jan. 1, 2025, and still participate in the polar plunge festivities a few days later.

Want to jump into the New Year? Here are five polar plunges around the state

The 2025 Al’burrr’querque Polar Plunge takes place on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, at Sierra Vista Pool from 10:30 am. to 11:30 a.m. It costs $40 for a standard plunge, and for an additional $20 donation, participants can nominate another person to join them. There’s also a slide option for $50. Proceeds primarily benefit Shanta Strong Swim Fund, which provides swimming lesson scholarships for children in need. An additional 10% helps to provide “special enrichment items” for the ABQ BioPark Zoo polar bears and penguins. This will be the fifth year of the event.

In past years, attendance has approached 100 people willing to brave the water, which is projected to be a chilly 40 to 45 degrees on plunge day. Hot cocoa and snacks will be provided, and there are also rewards for best costume, largest group, largest family and largest donation.

Here’s a look at some of the other polar plunge options throughout the state.

Storrie Lake: While official record keeping for this type of thing is sketchy at best, this one might be the longest-running event of its kind in the state. Entering its 29th year, the Storrie Lake Polar Bear Plunge was initially the brainchild of a local judge.

Today, the tradition is carried on by Storrie Lake park manager Manuel Villanueva, who says attendance can range from 50 to 150 people.

Attendees typically jump in the water — which is 33 to 34 degrees — from the dock in groups of 10 to 15. Park staff cut through the ice before the plunge begins, and emergency personnel— a presence at virtually every polar plunge event — are on hand as a precaution.

“I just like that it brings the whole community together,” Villanueva said. That’s one of my favorite things. We have more spectators than people that jump in … It’s awesome to see people’s reaction — that’s what everybody looks forward to when they come out of the lake.

Dave and Friends Polar Bear Plunge: Once one of his friends put the word out on social media, event founder Dave Dailey says, this plunge took on a life of its own. With a rapid surge in popularity, Dailey saw the opportunity to make a cold dip in Lake Farmington benefit more than just the participants.

“I thought it’d be a cool way to just get a little fundraiser for different nonprofits in the area,” Dailey said.

For the past two years, funds — a $20 donation is suggested, but more is certainly welcome — have gone toward helping 4Corners K-9 Search & Rescue, a nonprofit organization with the mission to “locate, rescue and recover lost and missing persons on Native American tribal lands.”

Founder and CEO Bernadine Beyale currently has two trained dogs, Gunny and Moby, that assist her in finding lost individuals as well as remains of the deceased. A third dog, Trigger, died in February.

“We don’t charge families that we help … A lot of it comes out of our own pocket. And it goes to gas, feeding the team members, food for the dogs —especially their vet care, taking care of all of that,” Beyale said.

And yes, Beyale and her dogs have been known to jump in the lake.

“(Last year) was my first time ever doing anything like that, and it is so refreshing,” Beyale said.

“It makes you feel alive.”

Eagle Nest Lake: Here, there’s an alternative to jumping in the frigid waters on New Year’s Day. There’s also a polar stomp (think of it as a wintry hike) being held on site.

“Not everybody wants to plunge, but depending on the weather situation, you either snowshoe or you can walk in your tennis shoes because the area where it’s at is fairly level,” said Vicki Davidson, Friends of Eagle Nest membership chairman. “So if you don’t plunge, you can do kind of a walk in nature to begin the New Year as well.”

The plunge itself has been taking place since 2009 and attracts plenty of participation. Shoes are required, and a waiver-release form must be signed to take part. This plunge really does seem to be an all ages event, as evidenced by Davidson’s neighbor jumping in last year.

“He’s older than 65, and I actually didn’t know if it was a good idea for him to do it,” she said. “But there were quite a few older people jumping and they didn’t have any problem.”

Sugarite Canyon State Park: Plunging is also apparently for lovers.

On Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, the ice will be opened at Lake Maloya for a Partner Polar Plunge, where couples can dive in the freezing cold water in recognition of Valentine’s Day. Fear not, singles: Those without significant others are also welcome.

While the plunge has typically been held closer to the beginning of the year for past iterations, the park is partnering with Raton Mountain Adventures for this special theme. Regardless of the date, clearing out a spot on the frozen lake has been an event unto itself in previous years.

“Normally, what they’ve had to do is they chainsaw out of a chunk of ice,” said Robert Smith, northeast regional park interpreter. “… Last year we had, like, 13 inches of ice when they did it. So we cut out about a three-by-three spot on the ice, pulled it out and away they went.”