Read about the 1st Annual Chilly Dip
More than three dozen brave souls replicated the famous “Midwest Polar Plunge” on Saturday, March 12 as they jumped into the outdoor swimming pool at Stallion Springs. While the Midwest plunge usually takes place on January 1, the first Annual Stallion Springs Chilly Dip set a Tehachapi record for swimming outdoors before Memorial Day.
The effort, a fundraiser for the Stallion Springs Recreation Department, was designed to jump-start community support for upgrades in the multi-purpose center.
The only two requirements were that jumpers needed to be able to swim and needed to be clothed - absolutely no skinny dipping. Residents took the clothing requirement to an extreme when they showed up in graduation gowns, Halloween costumes and wet suits. One resident even wore a wedding dress!
A registration fee of ten dollars earned the right to jump, a tee shirt and a chili boat. More residents came to watch than jump, they bought the tee shirt and chili boat for an extra five dollars.
Stallion Springs Chilly Dip jumper Tim Garrison called the experience “the most exhilarating thing I have ever done”.
Police Chief Brad Burris chimed in citing that the water was far colder than he expected. “I was looking for chunks of ice. When I went under, I thought, what am I doing? I must be crazy. But I am all in for Stallion and if that means jumping in the pool in March, I’m there.”
Brad was in good company. The event took in nearly $1,000.
Plans are already in the works for next year. Boat races, a chili cook-off, an official costume contest and “Diving for Dollars” are among the ideas for the 2nd Annual Chili Dip. It’s officially set for the second Saturday in March.
The First Annual Stallion Springs’ Chilly Dip was a splashing success. Event coordinators are hoping to double the participation and the money raised, in year two.
“We had no idea how many people would come out and participate,” said Stallion Springs General Manager Mary Beth Garrison. “We believed that if we planned it, they would come … and they did.”
