By Lisa Schick

Swimmers ready for the Big River Shiver plunge

Mar 11, 2011 | 10:27 AM

The forecast is for negative degrees on Saturday, but some in Big River residents are still getting ready to take a dip in the lake.

The town’s annual Big River Shiver takes place Saturday and preparations were underway long before.

The event includes a pond hockey tournament, supper, dance, awards, and of course, the polar bear swim.

Thus far, six swimmers have signed up to take the plunge and take pledges to raise money for local organizations.

Jack Hill, a 59-year-old auctioneer, was the first to pitch the idea of the swim with the hockey tournament and has taken part in it every year.

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“(The) first reaction was… ‘well no one is crazy enough to do that,’ so I said if nobody else does it then I’ll jump in,” said Hill.

The hockey players and swimmers also dress up in costumes for the occasion and awards are given out later for the best ones.

Hill wasn’t able to swim last year, but the year before he dressed up as the Cowan Lake Monster.

He’s keeping this year’s costume secret until the event, but Hill is hinting that the costumes this year are going to be even more elaborate than before.

The event has been going on for the past three years but Misty Olson, one of the organizers for the event, said no one has ever chickened out.

“Everybody that’s done (the swim), I don’t know, I think they’re crazy but they all say that it wasn’t that bad,” joked Olson.

In 2010 the Big River Shiver’s polar bear swim was named one of the top 13 Must Experience Winter Places in Canada by the Canadian Tourism Commission – and Olson said they’re expecting an even bigger turnout this year because of it.

“Each year (the event) just seems to get bigger and bigger, every year there’s more people and more people have heard about it.”

Hill said thinks this is a great time of year, and it’s a big time of year for Big River.

“I love this time of year. There’s lots going on in Big River. Talent show last weekend, and this weekend the Big River Shiver and next weekend is the ice fishing derby here,” said Hill.

All monies raised at the Shiver go toward the Ski Hill, the Big River EDC, the Ballpark Improvement Fund and the local legion.

The pond hockey tournament starts at 11a.m., the polar bear swim begins at approximately 5 p.m. after the hockey final and the supper and dance will follow with entertainment from Hammer Down.

lschick@panow.com